Thabo Matlaba

Thabo "Festival" Matlaba (born 13 December 1987 in Tembisa, Gauteng) is a South African football (soccer) defender for Premier Soccer League club Black Leopards. 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.

Thabo Matlaba

Personal information
Full name	Thabo Matlaba
Date of birth	(1987-12-13) 13 December 1987
Place of birth	Tembisa, South Africa
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 6 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s)	Left-back
Club information
Current team	Black Leopards
Number	8
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–	Black Leopards	1	(0)
National team^‡
2011–	South Africa	29	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:36, 30 January 2018 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2016

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[lower-alpha 1]	0	27	2
	2013–14	Premier Soccer League	25	2	5	0	4	0	11[lower-alpha 2]	2	45	4
	2014–15	Premier Soccer League	17	1	2	0	0	0	4[lower-alpha 1]	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[lower-alpha 1]	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. 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

External links

• Thabo Matlaba at National-Football-Teams.com
• Thabo Matlaba at WorldFootball.net
• Thabo Matlaba at FootballDatabase.eu
• Thabo Matlaba at Soccerway

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.