Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 23 February 2002 | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pirates | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
Thohoyandou | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2022– | Richards Bay | 24 | (1) |
International career‡ | |||
South Africa U23 | |||
2025– | South Africa | 1 | (0) |
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 July 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 June 2025 |
Yanela Mbuthuma (born 23 February 2002) is a South African soccer player who plays as a forward for Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League and the South Africa national team.
Mbuthuma joined Richards Bay from Thohoyandou in the summer of 2022. [1] He was discovered by Richards Bay at the Khabba Cup, where he was designated "player of the tournament". [2] He subsequently made his first-tier debut in the 2022-23 South African Premier Division. [3] His first goal was the winning goal against Sekhukhune United in August 2022. [4]
After the season, the Sunday Times eyed him as one of the players who should move to an overseas club to develop further. [5] Mbuthuma was named in the preliminary South Africa squad for the 2023 COSAFA Cup. [6] He also played for South Africa U23 the same year, during the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. [7]