| Fullname: | Katlego Abel Mphela[1] |
| Birth Date: | 29 November 1984 |
| Birth Place: | Brits, South Africa |
| Height: | 1.82 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthclubs1: | Early Birds |
| Youthclubs2: | Arcadia Shepherds |
| Youthclubs3: | Orlando Pirates |
| Youthclubs4: | Jomo Cosmos |
| Years1: | 2003–2004 |
| Clubs1: | Jomo Cosmos |
| Caps1: | 2 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2004–2006 |
| Clubs2: | Strasbourg |
| Caps2: | 19 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2005–2006 |
| Clubs3: | → Reims (loan) |
| Caps3: | 5 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 2006–2008 |
| Clubs4: | SuperSport United |
| Caps4: | 62 |
| Goals4: | 10 |
| Years5: | 2008–2014 |
| Clubs5: | Mamelodi Sundowns |
| Caps5: | 116 |
| Goals5: | 48 |
| Years6: | 2014–2015 |
| Caps6: | 15 |
| Goals6: | 3 |
| Years7: | 2015–2017 |
| Clubs7: | Royal Eagles |
| Caps7: | 28 |
| Goals7: | 9 |
| Totalcaps: | 247 |
| Totalgoals: | 78 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2005–2007 |
| Nationalteam1: | South Africa U-23 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 5 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2005–2013 |
| Nationalteam2: | South Africa |
| Nationalcaps2: | 53 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 23 |
Katlego Abel Mphela (born 29 November 1984) is a South African retired professional footballer who played as a forward.
Mphela, a product of Jomo Cosmos, played in France for RC Strasbourg Alsace and Stade de Reims, both with limited success.
After returning home he turned out for SuperSport United for the 2007–08 season before joining Mamelodi Sundowns the following season. He then finished the 2009–10 season with 17 goals in 30 games which made him the league's top goalscorer. He won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot and was voted PSL Players' Player of the Season.
Mphela joined Chiefs in 2014. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Maritzburg United.[2] He scored his first goal for Chiefs against Free State Stars but it was cancelled out almost immediately in a 1–1 draw.[3] Mphela scored on the last league match of the season in the 55th minute against AmaZulu in a 3–0 win.[4]
After two years out of action, 34-year old Mphela announced his retirement in August 2019.[5] He also announced, that he would begin as a coach and that he already was coaching youth players.
Mphela scored a brace on his debut for the South Africa national team against Seychelles on 26 February 2005.
He has represented South Africa 53 times, scoring 23 goals. He scored South Africa's only goal in the 3–1 defeat against Tunisia in the 2008 African Nations Cup.
Perhaps Mphela's greatest moment came in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup third-place playoff against Spain. Coming in as a substitute Mphela produced arguably the goal of the tournament with a free kick from 30 yards, which turned out to be the last action of the 90 mins, sending the game into extra time.
Mphela was included in South Africa's 23-man final squad for the 2010 World Cup. He played in the inaugural match against Mexico, which ended 1–1. Next, the Bafana Bafana played against Uruguay, but they lost the game 3–0. In their final group game, he scored the 2nd goal in a 2–1 win against France as South Africa exited the competition.[6]
Mphela opened the scoring in South Africa's first international match following the 2010 World Cup putting South Africa up 1–0 against Ghana.
Mphela scored the winner for South Africa against Egypt in the 93rd minute with a perfect finish that saw the North Africans beaten by South Africa for the first time in competitive football between the two countries and increased the hopes of qualification.
Mphela also participated in the 2013 African Cup of Nations tournament.
His style of play includes challenging defenders with both pace and strength but he can still play deep as a supporting striker. He is nicknamed "Killer" for his finishing ability.[7]
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mphela goal.[8]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 February 2005 | Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2005 COSAFA Cup | ||
| 2 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 3 | 27 February 2005 | Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2005 COSAFA Cup | ||
| 4 | 27 January 2008 | Tamale Stadium, Tamale, Ghana | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
| 5 | 28 June 2009 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup | ||
| 6 | 2–2 | ||||||
| 7 | 12 August 2009 | Super Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa | 1–3 | 1–3 | Friendly | ||
| 8 | 19 September 2009 | Griquas Park, Kimberley, South Africa | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | ||
| 9 | 3 March 2010 | Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly | ||
| 10 | 16 May 2010 | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly | ||
| 11 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 12 | 27 May 2010 | Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly | ||
| 13 | 31 May 2010 | Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa | 1–0 | 5–0 | Friendly | ||
| 14 | 4–0 | ||||||
| 15 | 5 June 2010 | Atteridgeville Super Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | ||
| 16 | 22 June 2010 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup | ||
| 17 | 11 August 2010 | Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | ||
| 18 | 4 September 2010 | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 19 | 26 March 2011 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 20 | 10 August 2011 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | ||
| 21 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 22 | 12 November 2011 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly | ||
| 23 | 3 June 2012 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |