Yanela Mbuthuma

Last updated

Yanela Mbuthuma
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 23)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
Orlando Pirates
Number 9
Youth career
Thohoyandou
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2025 Richards Bay 72 (8)
2025– Orlando Pirates 6 (2)
International career‡
South Africa U23
2025– South Africa 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 January 2026
‡ 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 South African Premier Division 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 Su

nday 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]

References

  1. ↑ "Richards Bay unveil 10 new signings ahead of 2022/23 DStv Premiership season". Head Topics South Africa. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Dladla, Nkululeko (14 June 2023). "Khabba Cup talent linked with Orlando Pirates". SABC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Yanela Mbuthuma at Soccerway
  4. ↑ Madlala, Robin-Duke (17 August 2022). "Yanela targets more goals accreditation". Daily Sun. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Dindi, Sithembiso (1 July 2023). "Young players who need to play their last season in the PSL and move overseas". Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Gibbs, Herman (25 June 2023). "Bright local talent called up to Bafana COSAFA squad". DFA. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Notoane names SA squad for CAF U23 Olympic Qualifiers clash against Congo". SAFA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.