Phumelele Bhengu

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Phumelele Bhengu

| image =

| fullname = Phumelele Ace Bhengu{{cite web |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: South Africa |url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/10/28/62/fwyc_2009_squadlists.pdf |publisher=FIFA |page=16 |date=6 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013164551/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/10/28/62/fwyc_2009_squadlists.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2009 }}

| height =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Natal, South Africa

| currentclub = Tshakhuma Madzivhandila

| clubnumber =

| position = Winger / Centre forward

| youthyears1 = 2003–2008

| youthclubs1 = Moroka Swallows

| years1 = 2008–2011

| clubs1 = Moroka Swallows

| caps1 = 12

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2011–2013

| clubs2 = Mpumalanga Black Aces

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2011

| clubs3 = → Bay United (loan)

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2013

| clubs4 = Chippa United

| caps4 = 1

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2013–2015

| clubs5 = Thanda Royal Zulu

| caps5 = 46

| goals5 = 26

| years6 = 2015–2016

| clubs6 = SuperSport United

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2016–2017

| clubs7 = Royal Eagles

| caps7 = 15

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2017–2018

| clubs8 = Real Kings

| caps8 = 20

| goals8 = 5

| years9 = 2018–

| clubs9 = Tshakhuma Madzivhandila

| caps9 = 15

| goals9 = 11

| nationalyears1 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = South Africa U20

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2015–

| nationalteam2 = South Africa

| nationalcaps2 = 3

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 22:51, 6 October 2019 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 3 January 2018

}}

Phumelele Ace Bhengu (born 19 November 1989) is a South African footballer who plays as a winger or centre forward for Tshakhuma Madzivhandila.

Club career

=Moroka Swallows=

Five years after joining Moroka Swallows' youth academy at the age of 14, in 2008 Bhengu started playing senior football in the Premier Soccer League. After scoring a brace against Kaizer Chiefs Bhengu was praised and compared to Benni McCarthy.{{cite news|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2008-10-06-bhengu-announces-his-arrival|title=Bhengu announces his arrival|first=Billy|last=Cooper|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|date=6 October 2008}}

=Bay United=

In January 2011, Bhengu joined Bay United on a 6-month loan deal.{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/19981/phumelele-ace-bhengu-signs-for-bay-united|title=Phumelele 'Ace' Bhengu signs for Bay United|newspaper=Kick Off|first=Ernest|last=Fakude|date=31 January 2011}} At Bay United, Bhengu reverted to playing as a striker.{{cite web|url=http://www.psl.co.za/article.asp?id=406943|title=Ace on the rise|publisher=Premier Soccer League|date=21 February 2011}}

=Chippa United=

In January 2013, Bhengu joined Chippa United on a two-and-a-half-year deal,{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/32236/phumelele-bhengu-signs-for-chippa-united|title=Phumelele Bhengu signs for Chippa United|newspaper=Kick Off|first=Tiyani|last=Mabasa|date=14 January 2013}} but was released two weeks later with Chippa United citing a lack of match fitness as the reason.{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/32572/phumelele-bhengu-not-fit-enough-to-play-at-chippa-united|title=Phumelele Bhengu not fit enough to play at Chippa United|newspaper=Kick Off|first=Tiyani|last=Mabasa|date=30 January 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/51002/phumelele-bhengu-striking-lucky-at-thanda-royal-zulu|title=Phumelele Bhengu striking lucky at Thanda Royal Zulu|newspaper=Kick Off|first=Mark|last=Herman|date=8 December 2014}}

=Thanda Royal Zulu=

In the second half of 2013, Bhengu joined Thanda Royal Zulu and started reviving his career.{{cite web|url=http://www.psl.co.za/article.asp?id=2739264|title=Ace Bhengu: A striker reborn|publisher=Premier Soccer League|date=19 November 2014}}

Bhengu finished the 2014–15 season as the top-scorer, scoring 22 goals and setting a new National First Division record.{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/55302/phumelele-bhengus-22-goals-in-nfd-sets-new-record|title=Phumelele Bhengu's 22 goals in NFD sets new record|newspaper=Kick Off|date=11 May 2015}}

=SuperSport United=

After winning the National First Division's golden boot award, Bhengu turned down offers from Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns to join SuperSport United.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/south-africa/phumelele-bhengu-has-agreed-to-sign-for-supersport-united/210295|title=SuperSport Snap Up NFD Top Scorer|first=Joe|last=Crann|publisher=Soccer Laduma|date=22 May 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/57607/phumelele-bhengu-turned-down-kaizer-chiefs|title=Phumelele Bhengu turned down Kaizer Chiefs|newspaper=Kick Off|first=Katlego|last=Modiba|date=30 July 2015}}

Bhengu's first season with SuperSport United was not successful, managing only four substitute appearances, prompting him to request a loan move to gain game-time.{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/61799/psl-transfer-news-supersport-united-striker-phumelele-bhengu-wants-a-loan-move|title=SuperSport United striker Phumelele Bhengu wants a loan move|newspaper=Kick Off|first=Rofhiwa|last=Lihaiwa|date=11 January 2016}}