Thalente Wandile Mbatha (born 6 March 2000) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier Soccer League side Orlando Pirates and the South African national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thalente Wandile Mbatha | ||
| Date of birth | 6 March 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | KwaMashu, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defansive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pirates | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020 | Highlands Park | 4 | (0) |
| 2020–2024 | SuperSport United | 23 | (0) |
| 2024– | Orlando Pirates | 11 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | South Africa | 2 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2024 | |||
Mbatha scored on his international debut.[1]
Club Career
editSuperSport United
editHe played for Tshwane based side SuperSport United.[2][3]
Orlando Pirates
editIn January 2024, he joined Soweto based club Orlando Pirates on a 6-month contract with the option for a permanent move.[4] He played his first final in the 2023-24 Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns. Mbatha was voted man of the match in the 2-1 win for Pirates.[5] His deal was extended for the 2024-25 PSL season.[6]
International career
editMbatha debuted for the South Africa men's national team in the 2025 Afcon qualifiers on 6 September 2024 against Uganda and scored on debut to help the side salvage a draw.[7][8]
International goals
edit| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6 September 2024 | Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa |  Uganda |
2–2 | 2–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2. | 10 September 2024 | Juba Stadium, Juba, South Sudan |  South Sudan |
3–2 | 3–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
Honours
editReferences
edit- ^ Mark, Jonty (2024-09-06). "Mbatha strikes late to earn Bafana AFCON draw with Uganda". The Citizen. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Thalente Mbatha at Soccerway
- ^ Qoshe, Yolulwe (2024-03-08). "SuperSport United clarify conditions of Talent Mbatha's Orlando Pirates move". The South African. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "Mbatha pressing to make Orlando Pirates loan transfer from SuperSport United a permanent move | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "Agent confirms Mbatha stay at Pirates". SuperSport. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Ngidi, Njabulo. "The rise and rise of Thalente Mbatha: 'He is going to be one of the biggest talents in SA'". Sport. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Ntshangase, Otis (2024-09-07). "Thalente Mbatha opens up on his Bafana Bafana heroics". FARPost. Retrieved 2024-09-07.