Thabo Mngomeni

Thabo Mngomeni (born 24 June 1969, Cape Town, Western Cape) is a South African former Association football midfielder.

Thabo Mngomeni
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-06-24) 24 June 1969
Place of birth Langa, Cape Town
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Bafana
Umtata City
Tembu Royals
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1994 Cape Town Spurs 67 (9)
1993 → D'Alberton Callies (loan) 3 (0)
1994 → Manning Rangers (loan) 25 (1)
1994–1998 Umtata Bush Bucks 95 (9)
1998–2002 Orlando Pirates 86 (23)
2002 Hellenic
International career
1998–2002 South Africa 37 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After starting his professional career at Cape Town Spurs and having a brief spell at Manning Rangers, Mngomeni became a household name in South Africa playing for Bush Bucks and Orlando Pirates. He also had a brief spell at Hellenic before retirement.

He played for South Africa national soccer team and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.[1]

Cape Town Spurs

He was recruited by former Kaizer Chiefs, Cape Town Spurs and Hellenic player, Sergio Dos Santos from an Eastern Cape amateur team, Tembu Royals. He left Spurs after two loan deals claiming that his coach, Mich D'Avray "hated him with a passion and he didn't know why".[2]

Umtata Bush Bucks

He first heard of the doping test in 1996 when he was informed by club officials who were aware that he smoked marijuana. Since Mngomeni was a Rastafarian he only smoked marijuana during pre-season.[2]

Orlando Pirates

Mngomeni would play for Orlando Pirates between 1998 and 2002 and become the club captain, leading them to the league title in 2001. It was during this period that he also became a regular at national level, and was one of very few locally based players in the South Africa squad during that period.

International career

He made his debut for the national football side at 29 in a 1–0 victory over Angola in 1998. All in all he played for the national team on 38 occasions, scoring six goals. He won the 2001 CAF Goal of the Year, for his bicycle kick against Congo.

Retirement

After joining Hellenic his career came to an end and he retired because of a knee injury at the age of 33.[2]

After retirement

He has coached at a number of Vodacom League teams in Cape Town. He completed his SAFA Level 2 coaching course.[2] In 2022, he launched the Thabo Mngomeni Foundation, and has been coaching in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape province.

Personal life

He is the older brother of Thando Mngomeni. He is married and has five daughters. He lives in Eerste River in Cape Town[2]

Career statistics

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 June 1999Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa Mauritius2–0Win2000 African Cup of Nations qual.
2.28 May 2000Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Malta0–1WinFriendly
3.7 June 2000Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas, United States Mexico4–2Loss2000 U.S. Cup
4.3 September 2000Stade Municipal, Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo Congo1–2Win2002 African Cup of Nations qual.
5.30 January 2002Stade Amare Daou, Ségou, Mali Morocco3–1Win2002 African Cup of Nations
6.12 May 2002Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa Madagascar1–0WinFriendly
Correct as of 9 March 2017[3][4]

See also

References
  1. Thabo Mngomeni Statistics FIFA. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  2. "Legends Corner: Thabo Mngomeni the proud jahman". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  3. South Africa – International Matches 1996-2000
  4. South Africa – International Matches 2001-2005
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