Thabo Matlaba
Personal information
Full name Thabo Matlaba
Date of birth (1987-12-13) 13 December 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth Tembisa, South Africa
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Royal AM
Number 14
Youth career
Leicester City (South Africa)
Mighty Tigers
M Tigers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Free State Stars 33 (3)
2012–2019 Orlando Pirates 149 (9)
2019–2020 Black Leopards 24 (1)
2020–2021 Swallows 40 (0)
2022– Royal AM 12 (1)
International career‡
2011– South Africa 29 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 November 2016

Thabo "Festival" Matlaba (born 13 December 1987) is a South African association football defender who plays for Premier Soccer League club, Royal AM. He is known for his long range shots with both his feet. Although he plays mostly as a left back, Matlaba is naturally right-footed.

Career statistics

As of 30 January 2018[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Free State Stars 2010–11 Premier Soccer League 27 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 3
2011–12 Premier Soccer League 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Total 33 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 3
Orlando Pirates 2011–12 Premier Soccer League 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2012–13 Premier Soccer League 22 1 1 0 2 1 2[a] 0 27 2
2013–14 Premier Soccer League 25 2 5 0 4 0 11[b] 2 45 4
2014–15 Premier Soccer League 17 1 2 0 0 0 4[a] 1 23 2
2015–16 Premier Soccer League 24 3 5 0 3 0 0 0 32 3
2016–17 Premier Soccer League 24 1 5 0 3 0 1[a] 0 33 1
2017–18 Premier Soccer League 15 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 17 1
Total 139 9 19 0 14 1 18 3 190 13
Career totals 172 12 19 0 14 1 18 3 223 16
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in MTN 8
  2. ^ Three Appearances in MTN 8 and Eight Appearances in CAF Champions League

International career

He made his debut for South Africa on 14 May 2011 versus Tanzania in an international friendly.[2]

Matlaba scored his first international goal with a 40-yard (37 m) drive in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic on 23 March 2013.[3][4]

International goals

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[5]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 23 March 2013 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa  Central African Republic 1–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Style of play

He is well known for his excellent burst of outstanding overlapping pace, a versatile player or utility player

References

  1. ^ Thabo Matlaba at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Bafana defeat Taifa Stars". Supersport. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  3. ^ Eslick, Daniel (25 March 2013). "South Africa Player of the Week: Thabo Matlaba". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Thabo Matlaba". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. ^ "T. Matlaba". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 November 2016.

External links

Royal AM F.C. โ€“ current squad
South Africa squad โ€“ 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
South Africa squad โ€“ 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
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