Bongani Khumalo

{{short description|South African professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bongani Khumalo

| image = Khumalo 2012.JPG

| image_size = 180

| caption = Khumalo in Poland

| fullname = Bongani Sandile Khumalo{{Cite web | title = B. Khumalo | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/bongani-khumalo/62551/ | publisher = Soccerway | access-date = 16 April 2014}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|1|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Manzini, Swaziland

| height = 1.84 m

| position = Centre-back

| clubnumber = 3

| youthyears1 = {{0|000}}?–2005

| youthclubs1 = Arcadia Shepherds

| years1 = 2005–2007

| clubs1 = AmaTuks

| caps1 = 50

| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 2007–2010

| clubs2 = SuperSport United

| caps2 = 81

| goals2 = 8

| years3 = 2011–2015

| clubs3 = Tottenham Hotspur

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2011

| clubs4 = → Preston North End (loan)

| caps4 = 6

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2011–2012

| clubs5 = → Reading (loan)

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2012–2013

| clubs6 = → PAOK (loan)

| caps6 = 22

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2013–2014

| clubs7 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)

| caps7 = 30

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2015

| clubs8 = → Colchester United (loan)

| caps8 = 10

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2015–2016

| clubs9 = SuperSport United

| caps9 = 9

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2016–2018

| clubs10 = Bidvest Wits

| caps10 = 43

| goals10 = 3

| years11 = 2018–2021

| caps11 = 30

| goals11 = 1

| totalcaps = 255

| totalgoals = 16

| nationalyears1 = 2008–2013

| nationalteam1 = South Africa

| nationalcaps1 = 42

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 15:27, 6 July 2020 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 15:42, 13 March 2014

}}

Bongani Sandile Khumalo (born 6 January 1987) is a South African retired footballer who last played as a centre-back for Bidvest Wits and the South Africa national team.

Early life

Khumalo was born in Manzini but relocated to Pretoria, South Africa during his infancy.{{cite news|url= https://mg.co.za/article/2010-06-11-200-young-south-africans-sport|title=200 Young South Africans: Sport|publisher=Mail & Guardian|date=11 June 2010|access-date=16 September 2018}} There, his late father was a language lecturer at the University of South Africa and his mother was a teacher.{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/10/27/2185349/bongani-khumalo-shelves-financial-career-to-make-tottenham|title=Bongani Khumalo shelves financial career to make Tottenham move and rubbishes rags to riches tale|website=Goal.com|date=27 October 2010|access-date=16 September 2018|last=Monaghan|first=Matt}} During his time in Pretoria, Khumalo studied towards a degree at the University of Pretoria while embarking on a professional football career. He later had to put his studies on hold, however, following a move to England. Upon his arrival in England, Khumalo was reported to have come from an impoverished background and being one of fifteen siblings. He later denied the reports, describing his family as middle class and confirming that he was an only child.

Club career

=University of Pretoria=

Having graduated from the Arcadia Shepherds academy, Khumalo signed for University of Pretoria in 2005. He spent two seasons at the club where he played in the National First Division

and scored four goals in 50 appearances.{{cite news|url=https://diski365.co.za/10-things-dont-know-bongani-khumalo/|title=10 things you don't know about Bongani Khumalo|publisher=Diski 365|access-date=16 September 2018}} His form during his time in with University of Pretoria caught the eye of a number of South African Premier Division sides and in 2007 he signed for SuperSport United.

=SuperSport United=

Following his arrival at SuperSport United, Khumalo soon established himself as an important player in Gavin Hunt's side and was later named captain of the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/oct/26/tottenham-hotspur-bongani-khumalo-transfer|title=Tottenham agree pre-contract deal for South African Bongani Khumalo|work=The Guardian|last=Fifield|first=Dominic|date=26 October 2010|access-date=16 September 2018}} Over the course of the next three seasons, he helped the club to three consecutive Premier Division and became the youngest ever player to lift the league title, at the age of 23.{{cite news|url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/PSL/Khumalo-eyes-title-raid-20150902|title=Khumalo eyes title raid|publisher=News 24|date=2 September 2015|access-date=16 September 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.supersport.com/football/absa-premiership/news/180730/Khumalo_back_at_SuperSport_United|title=Khumalo back at SuperSport United|publisher=SuperSport|date=30 July 2018|access-date=16 September 2018}} Khumalo's spell with the club coincided with the SuperSport United entering into an affiliation agreement with Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur, and in 2010 he signed a pre-contract to join the London-based club in January of the following year.

==Tottenham Hotspur==

On 26 October 2010, it was announced that Khumalo would be joining Tottenham Hotspur in January 2011 from partner club SuperSport United after a successful trial in September, subject to a work permit for a fee of £1.5 million. Tottenham confirmed the completion of Khumalo's transfer from SuperSport United on 7 January 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/bongani-transfer-complete-070111.html|title=Bongani transfer complete|publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|date=7 January 2011|access-date=7 January 2011}}

===Loan moves and release===

On 24 March 2011, Khumalo made an emergency deadline day loan move to Championship club Preston North End.{{cite news|url=http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10362~2323570,00.html |title=Bongani joins Preston |publisher=Preston North End F.C |date=24 March 2011 |access-date=25 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427164636/http://www.pnefc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10362~2323570%2C00.html |archive-date=27 April 2011}} He made his debut for Preston on 2 April 2011 in their 2–1 victory over Swansea.

On 25 July 2011, Khumalo moved on a season-long loan to Championship club Reading.{{cite news|url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2401123,00.html|title=Royals sign Khumalo on loan|publisher=Reading F.C|date=25 July 2011|access-date=25 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805201021/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2401123,00.html|archive-date=5 August 2012}} However following the arrival of Kaspars Gorkšs from Queens Park Rangers, Khumalo's appearances were limited, and he did not play a first team game after August. On 1 February 2012, it was confirmed that Khumalo's loan would be terminated early, to allow him to return to Tottenham.{{cite web|url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2595925,00.html |title=Khumalo makes Spurs return |access-date=30 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204022833/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~2595925%2C00.html |archive-date= 4 February 2012}}

On 6 July 2012, Khumalo joined Greek club PAOK on loan, for one year.{{cite web|url=http://www2.paok24.com/newsitem.asp?s=12&cid=68&id=19793&t=1 |script-title=el:Παρουσιάζεται στις 19.30 ο Κουμαλό |website=Paok24.com |access-date=18 July 2012 |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521211403/http://www2.paok24.com/newsitem.asp?s=12&cid=68&id=19793&t=1 |archive-date=21 May 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/bongani-in-paok-loan-17072012.page? |title=BONGANI IN PAOK LOAN |website=Tottenhamhotspur.com |access-date=18 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719234538/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/bongani-in-paok-loan-17072012.page |archive-date=19 July 2012}}

Khumalo was signed by Doncaster Rovers of the Championship for a season's loan on 31 July 2013.{{cite web|title=Bafana Bafana Captain Signs|url=http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/bafana-bafana-captain-signs-957576.aspx|publisher=DRFC Official Site|access-date=31 July 2013}} On 6 August in his second game for Rovers he scored the winner in a 1−0 victory against Rochdale in the League Cup.{{cite news|title=Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Rochdale|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23499365|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=6 August 2013}}

On 14 March 2015, Khumalo joined Colchester United on loan for the rest of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.cu-fc.com/news/article/colchester-united-norwich-city-tottenham-hotspur-2332560.aspx|publisher=Colchester United FC|title=Khumalo Comes In|access-date=7 January 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cu-fc.com/news/article/bongani-gets-clearance-2340302.aspx|publisher=Colchester United FC|title=Bongani Gets Clearance|access-date=7 January 2016}} He made ten appearances for the Colchester Community Stadium based club before returning to Tottenham.

Khumalo was released by Tottenham Hotspur at the end of 2014–15 season,{{cite web|title=Retained and released lists submitted by Premier League clubs |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/jun/100615-premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html |website=Premierleague.com/ |publisher=Premier League |access-date=10 June 2015 |date=10 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926084333/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/jun/100615-premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html |archive-date=26 September 2015 }} without ever playing a competitive game for the club in 4.5 years.

=Return to South Africa=

On 4 August 2015, it was announced that Khumalo had signed for SuperSport United, leaving Tottenham Hotspur after four years and no competitive appearances.{{cite news |url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/57744/psl-transfer-news-supersport-sign-bongani-khumalo-and-fagrie-lakay|website=Kickoff.com|title=PSL Transfer News: SuperSport sign Bongani Khumalo and Fagrie Lakay|access-date=4 August 2015}} He made 10 appearances in all competitions for SuperSport before moving to fellow Premier Soccer League side Bidvest Wits.{{cite news |url=http://www.bidvestwits.co.za/players/bongani-khumalo-a-clever-boy/|website=Bidvestwits.co.za|title=Bongani Khumalo a Clever Boy|access-date=7 January 2016}}

=Retirement=

On 21 September 2021, it was announced that he is now retiring from football.{{Cite web|last=Mothowagae|first=Daniel|title=Bongani Khumalo: 'I'm not a footballer any more'|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/sport/bongani-khumalo-im-not-a-footballer-any-more-20210919|access-date=2021-10-08|website=News24.com|language=en-US}}

International career

Khumalo was named in the South Africa national team squad for the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup, both in South Africa. On 22 June 2010, he scored the first goal after 21 minutes against France as South Africa finished their World Cup campaign with a 2–1 win.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_34/default.stm|title=France 1–2 South Africa|date=22 June 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Chris|last=Bevan|access-date=24 June 2010}} Khumalo was captain of the national team at the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

=International goals=

:Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Khumalo goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Bongani Khumalo
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1	22 June 2010	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa	{{fb\|FRA}}	align="center"\|1–0	align="center"\|2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Bongani Khumalo

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

22 June 2010

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa