Sandile Mthethwa

Sandile Mthethwa
Personal information
Full name Sandile Mthethwa[1]
Date of birth (1997-04-14) 14 April 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Ngwelezane, South Africa
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Orlando Pirates
Number 39
Youth career
–2011 Shooting Stars
2013–2016 KZN Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Flamengo FC
2013–2016 Durban FC
2016– Orlando Pirates 13 (1)
2017–2019 → Richards Bay (loan) 43 (4)
2019–2021 → Chippa United (loan) 30 (1)
2021–2022 → Chippa United (loan) 23 (1)
International career‡
2017 South Africa U20 6 (0)
2017–2019 South Africa 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 October 2022

Sandile Mthethwa (born 14 April 1997) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Orlando Pirates and formerly the South Africa national football team.

Club career

Mthethwa was born in Ngwelezane, on the outskirts of Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal.[3] Mthethwa started his youth career at Shooting Stars, before playing for Flamengo FC of the SAFA Regional League between 2011 and 2013.[3] He signed for the KZN Academy in 2013, and played for partner club Durban FC.[3][4]

In May 2015, it was announced that Mthethwa had joined CS Maritimo on a one-year deal,[5] but instead signed for Orlando Pirates in early 2016.[6] He joined Richards Bay on loan in summer 2017,[7] where he made 17 league appearances during the 2017–18 season.[8] He returned to Richards Bay for a further season in summer 2018,[9] and scored 4 goals across 26 appearances over the course of the 2018–19 season.[8]

In July 2019, he joined Chippa United on a season-long loan.[10][11] He made 8 appearances for Chippa United across the 2019–20 season.[8] He returned to the club on loan for the 2020–21 season.[12]

International career

Mthethwa has represented South Africa at both under-20 and senior international levels.[13][14]

Style of play

Mthethwa plays as a centre-back.[15]

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 – List of Players: South Africa" (PDF). fifadata.com. FIFA. 11 June 2017. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Sandile Mthethwa". Orlando Pirates. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Amajita - Meet Sandile Mthethwa". ECR. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Orlando Pirates Sign Durban FC Youngsters". Soccer Laduma. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Maritimo sign KZN Academy graduate Sandile Mthethwa". Kick Off. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Orlando Pirates signing Sandile Mthethwa nicknamed 'Mathoho', Brian Hlongwa likened to Zungu". Kick Off. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Richards Bay FC sign Bafana and Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa". Kick Off. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Sandile Mthethwa at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa heading back to Richards Bay FC". Kick Off. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. ^ Phumzile, Ngcatshe (19 July 2019). "Chippa United sign Orlando Pirates defender Sandile Mthethwa". Goal. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  11. ^ Breakfast, Siviwe (19 July 2019). "Orlando Pirates ship yet another player off to Chippa United". The South African. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  12. ^ Nkanjeni, Vuyokazi (12 November 2020). "Chippa will emerge stronger after Fifa break, Mthethwa says". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Sandile Mthethwa". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Sandile Mthethwa". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  15. ^ Richardson, James (13 July 2019). "Orlando Pirates: What lies ahead for Sandile Mthethwa". The South African. Retrieved 5 March 2021.