Thembi Kgatlana

Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (born 2 May 1996) is a South African footballer; she plays as a forward for Benfica in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino and is a member of the South Africa national team.[1]

Thembi Kgatlana
Kgatlana in 2018
Personal information
Full name Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana
Date of birth (1996-05-02) 2 May 1996
Place of birth South Africa
Height 1.56 m (5 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Benfica
Number 11
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
University of the Western Cape
2018 Houston Dash 16 (2)
2019–2020 Beijing BG Phoenix 9 (4)
2020– Benfica 2 (3)
National team
2016– South Africa 55 (17)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Houston Dash

In February 2018, Kgatlana moved to the United States to join the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. She was brought in by her former national team coach Vera Pauw. Kgatlana joined her South African teammates Janine van Wyk and Linda Motlhalo in Houston.[2] Kgatlana made 16 appearances with Houston and she scored 2 goals.[3] Kgatlana was waived by the Houston Dash, on 6 February 2019.[4]

Beijing BG Phoenix

On 22 February 2019 Kgatlana signed with Beijing BG Phoenix F.C. in the Chinese Women's Super League. She was joined by South African teammate Linda Motlhalo who also made the move from Houston to China[5]

Benfica

On 27 January 2020 she signed with Benfica.[6]

On 1 February 2020 she made her debut with the club being subbed on in a 3–1 win over Braga in Taça da Liga Feminina.[7]

International career

She represented her country at the 2016 Summer Olympics[8] and the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations, where she won the Player of the Tournament and was the highest goal scorer.[9] Kgatlana also represented South Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, where she scored her country's first goal ever in the tournament.

International goals

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1
2 March 2018Tasos Markos Stadium, Paralimni, Cyprus Hungary
1–0
1–0
2018 Cyprus Cup
2
18 November 2018Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana Nigeria
1–0
1–0
2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations
3
21 November 2018 Equatorial Guinea
4–1
7–1
4
5–1
5
24 November 2018Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Zambia
1–0
1–1
6
27 November 2018Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana Mali
2–0
7
 19 January 2019 Cape Town Stadium  Netherlands
1–2
1–2
 Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Challenge
8
8 June 2019Stade Océane, Le Havre, France Spain
1–0
1–3
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 19 July 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Houston Dash 2018 NWSL 2 (14)20000002 (14)2
Beijing BG Phoenix 2019 Chinese Women's Super League 94114200157
Benfica 2020 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 256115200329

Honours
Individual

References
  1. "South Africa – T. Kgatlana – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Women Soccerway". us.women.soccerway.com.
  2. "Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana signs for Houston Dash". Independent Online (South Africa). 21 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  3. "T.KGATLANA". Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  4. "Houston Dash waive Banyana duo Thembi Kgatlana and Linda Motlhalo". 6 February 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  5. Dylan (23 February 2019). "Kgatlana signs for Chinese club". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. "Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana contratada". www.slbenfica.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  7. "Deram a volta com muita pinta". www.slbenfica.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  8. "Athletes – Famous Olympic Athletes, Medalists, Sports Heroes". 24 September 2018.
  9. Sixaba, Philasande. "Banyana's Thembi Kgatlana named player of the tournament". ewn.co.za.
  10. Anwankwo, Akan (8 January 2019). "South Africa's Kgatlana clinches Africa Women Player of the Year for 2018". Legit.ng – Nigeria news. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
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