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) | Defensive 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 | 12 | (3) |
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 |
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.
Mbatha scored on his international debut in 2024 against Uganda. [1]
He played for Tshwane based side SuperSport United. [2] [3]
In 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]
Mbatha 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]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 6 September 2024 | Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa | ![]() | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
2. | 10 September 2024 | Juba Stadium, Juba, South Sudan | ![]() | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
Orlando Pirates