Prins Tjiueza

Last updated

Prins Tjiueza
Personal information
Full name Prins Menelik Tjiueza
Date of birth (2002-03-12) 12 March 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Walvis Bay, Namibia [1]
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Cape Town City
Number 21
Youth career
2013–2017 Blue Waters
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2022 Blue Waters
2022–2024 Liria Prizren
2024– Cape Town City 3 (2)
International career
2021– Namibia 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:36, 2 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:32, 16 June 2024 (UTC)

Prins Menelik Tjiueza (born 12 March 2002) is a Namibian footballer who plays for Cape Town City FC of the South African Premier Division, and the Namibian national team.

Contents

Club career

Tjiueza began playing football at age 4. [2] In 2014 he was named Sportsman of the Year for Immanuel Ruiters School following his performance in the 2014 COSSASA Games held in Zambia. [3] He joined local club Blue Waters F.C. when he was 11 years old. When the team bought the league license for Flamingos F.C. and joined the Namibia Premier League in 2017, Tjiueza made his top-flight debut. Prior to his Premier League debut, he played for the Young United Academy and Spoilers FC of the First Division while with Blue Waters. [4]

In 2019 Tjiueza had a successful trial with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. However, the deal fell through after multiple teams claimed to have rights to sign him. [5]

In April 2021 he went on trial with an unnamed Turkish club. He played in a training match for the club and assisted on a goal. [4] A few months later, it was announced that he had received his Turkish residency permit and was finalizing a deal with Süper Lig club Alanyaspor. [1]

In August 2022 Tjiueza joined KF Liria Prizren of the First Football League of Kosovo. Over his first five matches with the team he tallied three goals and an assist. [6] He scored in a surprise victory over FC Drita, helping his team advance to the Round of 16 of the 2022–23 Kosovar Cup in November 2022. [7] On 28 April 2023 he scored a hattrick against KF Istogu. The eventual victory for Liria Prizren put the club level with FC Feronikeli 74 at the top of the league table. [8] In March 2023 it was reported that Tjiueza was being strongly pursued by Mamelodi Sundowns of the South African Premier Division. [9] Tjiueza helped Liria Prizren earn promotion to the Football Superleague of Kosovo for the 2023–2024 season. [10]

Tjiueza was a transfer target of Cape Town City FC in February 2024 but was unable to pass his physical following an ankle injury sustained while playing for the national team. [11] When the next transfer window opened in June 2024, Tjiueza was officially unveiled as a new signing for the 2024–25 season. [12]

International career

Tjiueza was spotted by national team coaches at the 2017 and 2018 Skorpion Zinc Tournament in which regional youth sides compete against each other. [2] At the 2018 COSAFA Under-17 Championship Tjiueza was the tournament's top scorer with six goals as the team advanced to the semi-final before ultimately losing to Angola. Namibia defeated Mauritius in the third-Place match with Tjiueza scoring the team's opening goal. [13] [14] Tjiueza then took part in the 2020 COSAFA U-20 Cup which saw Namibia advance to the final before a narrow 0–1 defeat to Mozambique. The result qualified Namibia for the 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations for the first time. [1] In Namibia’s opening match of the tournament, Tjiueza was named Man of the Match for his performance against the Central African Republic. [15]

Thanks to his performances in the prior youth championships, Tjiueza earned a call-ups to the senior team in January and March 2021. [16] [17] He made his senior international debut on 28 March 2021 in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification victory over Guinea. [18] In June 2021 he was named to Namibia's provisional squad by head coach Bobby Samaria for the 2021 COSAFA Cup. [19] He was named as the youngest player on the final roster the following month. [1] [20] In August 2021 Tjiueza was once again the youngest person called up to Namibia's provisional squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Congo and Togo the following month because of his excellent play in the NPFL. [21]

International goals

Scores and results list Namibia's goal tally first. [18]

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.21 November 2023 Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe 1–02–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Last updated 21 November 2023

International career statistics

As of match played 23 January 2024. [18]
Namibia national team
YearAppsGoals
202130
202210
202351
202450
Total141

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angola national football team</span> Angola mens national football team

The Angola national football team represents Angola in men's international football and is controlled by the Angolan Football Federation. Nicknamed Palancas Negras, the team is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Mozambique national football team represents Mozambique in men's international football competitions and is controlled by the Mozambican Football Federation, the governing body for football in Mozambique. Mozambique have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, but they have qualified for five Africa Cup of Nations in 1986, 1996, 1998, 2010, and most recently 2023, being eliminated in the first round in all five. In 1997, the Mozambique Football Federation became a founding member of COSAFA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibia national football team</span> National association football team

The Namibia national football team represents Namibia in men's international football and is controlled by the Namibia Football Association. They have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup but have made four appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Eswatini national football team, nicknamed Sihlangu Semnikati, represents Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, in international football and is controlled by the Eswatini Football Association. It has never qualified for the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Swaziland's best performance in an international tournament is a semi-final finish in the COSAFA Cup.

The Lesotho national football team, also known as LNFT, represents Lesotho in men's international association football and is governed by the Lesotho Football Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COSAFA Cup</span> International association football tournament in Southern Africa

The COSAFA Cup is an annual tournament for teams from Southern Africa organized by Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), inaugurated after the ban against the Republic of South Africa had been lifted and the African Cup of Nations had been staged there in 1996.

Mateus Galiano da Costa, known simply as Mateus, is an Angolan professional footballer who plays as a winger or a forward for Portuguese club F.C. Maia Lidador.

Sydney Convinus Plaatjies is a Namibian former footballer who played as a midfielder. He played club football for Refugees FC, Blue Waters, Jomo Cosmos, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Kabuscorp, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Đồng Tháp and Blue Boys and international football for the Namibia national football team, where he was part of the Namibia squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Angola women's national football team represents Angola in international women's football and it is controlled by the Angolan Football Federation. Their best place on the FIFA Rankings was the 82nd place, in December 2003. The only tournaments that they qualified were the 1995 and 2002 African Women's Championships, and their best finish was as Semi-Finalists in the 1995 tournament. Angola has, in contrast to many other African countries, has never suffered a heavy defeat. They have seldom lost by more than two goals.

Peter Shalulile is a Namibian professional footballer who plays as a striker for South African Premier Division club Mamelodi Sundowns and the Captain for Namibia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Katebe</span> Zambian footballer

Aaron Katebe is a Zambian footballer who currently playing for Power Dynamos in the Zambia Super League as a defender.

Luther Wesley Singh is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Cypriot club AEL Limassol and the South Africa national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 COSAFA Cup</span> International football competition

The 2017 COSAFA Cup is the 17th edition of the COSAFA Cup, an international football competition consisting of national teams of member nations of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA). It was held in South Africa from 25 June to 9 July.

Isaskar Gurirab is a Namibian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Blue Waters fc since august 2023. He Scored in his first match since returning to the country from Orapa united in the Botswana premiere league.

Itamunua Maverinjono Keimuine is a Namibian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Dire Dawa City in the Ethiopian Premier League and for the Namibia national football team.

Pedro Valdemar Soares Gonçalves is a Portuguese football manager. He is currently the coach of Angola national team.

Lubeni Haukongo is a Namibian footballer who plays for Shamakhi FK of the Azerbaijan Premier League.

Affandi Aboudou is a Seychellois footballer who plays as a defender for La Passe FC and the Seychelles national team.

Bethuel Muzeu, also known as Muzeu Muzeu, is a Namibian footballer who plays for National First Division club Black Leopards and the Namibia national team.

Rewaldo Prins is a Namibian footballer who plays for South African Premier Division club Marumo Gallants.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tjiueza Cherish Brave Warriors Experience". New Era. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Tjienza Hails Skopion Zinc Tourney". Namibian Sun. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  3. "Immanuel Ruiters School Prize-Giving". The Namib Times. 2 December 2014. p. 15. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 Uugwanga, Michael. "Wonderkid Tjiueza in Turkey for trials". confidentenamibia.com. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  5. "Sporting Kansas City Trial". Core Sportz Agency. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  6. Uugwanga, Michael. "Tjiueza thriving at new home". Confidante Namibia. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  7. "Liria bën befasinë e radhës në Kupë, eliminon lideren e Superligës" (in Albanian). Top Sporti. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  8. "Prinsi me hat-trick, Liria demolon Istogun barazon piet me liderin" (in Albanian). topsporti.com. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  9. "Sundowns Close in on Tjiueza". The South African . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  10. "Fillon Superliga e Kosovës 2023/24 – njihuni me formacionet e mundshme, trajnerët dhe liderët e të gjitha skuadrave elitare për këtë edicion" (in Albanian). Gazeta Olle. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  11. Hendricks, Joshua. "Prins Tjiueza to Cape Town City FC situation clarified". Far Post. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  12. "Cape Town City confirm signing of Namibia international". Super Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  13. "Amajimbos edged by Angola in COSAFA Youth Championships final". South African Football Association. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  14. Williams, Jay. "Report: West Ham interested in signing Angolan striker Zito Luvumbo". hammers.news. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  15. "KANDJII'S LATE EQUALISER CATAPULTS NAMIBIA TO THE TOP". Hop Sol Soccer. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. "Fresh faces savour big boys' experience". namibian.com.na. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  17. "New Call-Ups Impress in Training Match". The Namibian. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  19. Hembapu, Otniel. "Samaria names provisional squad for Cosafa …as striker Urikhob returns". neweralive.na. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  20. "Namibia names final squad ahead of COSAFA Cup". Xinhua. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  21. "Samaria prepares for World Cup Qualifiers". The Namibia. Retrieved 22 August 2021.