South African soccer player
Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Date of birth
(2000-06-20 ) 20 June 2000 (age 24) Place of birth
South Africa Height
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[ 1] Position(s)
Forward , winger Current team
Minnesota United Number
21 Years
Team
Apps
(Gls )
Nxamalala Fast XI
2019–2022
Maritzburg United
53
(7) 2022–
Minnesota United
85
(28) 2019–
South Africa
15
(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 September 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 June 2023
Bongokuhle Hlongwane (born 20 June 2000) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United and the South African national team .
Club career
Maritzburg United
Hlongwane grew up in Nxamalala studying at Umthoqotho High School ,Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg and played for Nxamalala Fast XI in the SAFA Regional League before joining Maritzburg United 's academy.[ 2] He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 defeat to Orlando Pirates in April 2019 and scored his first goal for the club a month later against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the relegation play-offs.[ 2] He was nominated for the South African Premier Division Young Player of the Season award for the 2020–21 campaign.[ 3] In July 2021, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[ 4]
Minnesota United
On 5 January 2022, MLS club Minnesota United announced the signing of Hlongwane to a three-year contract with a one-year club option.[ 5]
International career
Hlongwane was first called up to the South African national team in July 2019,[ 2] and made his international debut on 28 July as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat to Lesotho .[ 6] On 8 June 2021, he made his second appearance and full debut for South Africa against Uganda and scored his first international goal following a "fortunate deflection" in a 3–2 win.[ 7] On 6 September 2021, he scored against Ghana in a World Cup qualifier as South Africa won 1–0.[ 8]
Career statistics
Club
As of 21 September 2023 [ 9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club
Season
League
National Cup
League Cup
Other
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Maritzburg United
2018–19
SAPD
2
0
0
0
0
0
2[ a]
1
4
1
2019–20
14
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
15
2
2020–21
21
3
1
0
0
0
1[ b]
0
23
3
2021–22
16
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
2
Total
53
7
2
0
0
0
3
1
58
8
Minnesota United
2022
MLS
30
2
3
0
—
0
0
33
2
2023
25
8
3
2
5
7
0
0
33
17
Total
55
10
6
2
5
7
0
0
66
19
Career total
108
17
8
2
5
7
3
1
123
27
International
As of match played 17 June 2023[ 10]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
South Africa
2019
1
0
2021
7
2
2022
4
2
2023
3
0
Total
15
4
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hlongwane goal.
References
External links