Siyabonga Mabena
{{short description|South African soccer player (born 2007)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Siyabonga Mabena
| image = Go Ahead Eagles - Mamelodi Sundowns FC - 53066455283.jpg
| fullname = Siyabonga Nicolas Mabena{{WorldFootball.net|siyabonga-mabena}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|2|18|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| height =
| currentclub = Mamelodi Sundowns
| clubnumber = 22
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1 = Transnet School of Excellence
| youthyears2 = 2022–2023
| youthclubs2 = Mamelodi Sundowns
| years1 = 2023–
| clubs1 = Mamelodi Sundowns
| caps1 = 13
| goals1 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2022–
| nationalteam1 = South Africa U17
| nationalcaps1 = 9
| nationalgoals1 = 10
| club-update = 15 October 2024
| nationalteam-update = 20 June 2023
| nationalyears2 = 2024-
| nationalteam2 = South Africa U20
| nationalcaps2 = 7
}}
Siyabonga Nicolas Mabena (born 18 February 2007) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a forward for Mamelodi Sundowns. He is regarded as one of the best young players in South Africa.
In 2024 mabena was included in the English newspaper The guardian's list of the best players born in 2007 worldwide.
Club career
Mabena progressed through the Transnet School of Excellence, before being subject to strong interest from fellow South African sides Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/mabena-how-orlando-pirates-mamelodi-sundowns-transfer-tug-of-war-over-bafana-bafana-youngster-was-resolved/blt694beacd2ff02228|title=Mabena: How Orlando Pirates-Mamelodi Sundowns transfer tug-of-war over Bafana Bafana youngster was resolved|first=Kiplagat|last=Sang|date=7 December 2022|accessdate=29 March 2023|website=goal.com}} He chose to join the Sundowns, with teammate Relebohile Ratomo joining the Pirates, and was promoted to the Sundowns' under-19 team at the age of fifteen.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/siyabonga-mabena-who-is-16-year-old-ex-orlando-pirates-target-on-mamelodi-sundowns-bench/blta4e401f1f641d72a#csc2970c2595cee0cd|title=Siyabonga Mabena: Who is 16-year-old ex-Orlando Pirates target on Mamelodi Sundowns' bench?|first=Ed|last=Dove|date=14 March 2023|accessdate=29 March 2023|website=goal.com}}
On 14 March 2023, he was a shock inclusion in Rhulani Mokwena's squad for the DStv Premiership match against Royal AM. With the score at 5–1, Mabena was brought on as a substitute for Themba Zwane, becoming the fifth youngest debutant ever in the South African top flight in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/list-youngest-debutants-in-psl-history-after-sundowns-field-16-year-old-siyabonga-mabena-20230315|title=LIST - Youngest debutants in PSL history after Sundowns field 16-year-old Siyabonga Mabena|first=Tashreeq|last=Vardien|date=15 March 2023|accessdate=29 March 2023|website=news24.com}} Following the game, manager Mokwena compared Mabena to the late Gift Leremi, lauding his balance, ability to play with both feet, and his change of direction at speed.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-03-15-mokwena-compares-sundowns-16yr-old-debutant-mabena-to-gift-leremi/|title=Mokwena compares Sundowns' 16-year-old debutant Mabena to Gift Leremi|first=Mahlatse|last=Mphahlele|date=15 March 2023|website=timeslive.co.za}} On the 27 of September 2023 Siyabonga Mabena became the youngest player to score in the Premier Soccer League at the age of 16 years 7 months and 9 days playing for Mamelodi Sundowns against Sekhukhune United.
International career
=Youth=
Mabena was called up to the South African under-17 squad for the 2022 COSAFA Under-17 Championship. He scored five goals in South Africa's 11–0 win over the Seychelles, and followed this up with a hat trick in the 5–1 semi-final win over Malawi.{{cite web|url=https://cosafa.com/zambia-south-africa-start-with-group-b-wins-in-boys-u17-qualifiers/|title=Zambia, South Africa start with Group B wins in Boys' U17 qualifiers|date=3 December 2022|accessdate=29 March 2023|website=cosafa.com}}{{cite web|url=https://cosafa.com/zambia-south-africa-book-final-places-in-boys-u17-qualifier-in-lilongwe/|title=Zambia, South Africa book final places in Boys' U17 qualifier in Lilongwe|date=9 December 2022|accessdate=29 March 2023|website=cosafa.com}} Although South Africa were beaten 1–0 in the final by Zambia, Mabena was named both top scorer and player of the tournament, having scored nine goals in five appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cosafa.com/zambia-south-africa-both-take-goal-at-region-5-games-lilongwe-2022/|title=Zambia, South Africa both take gold at Region 5 Games Lilongwe 2022|date=11 December 2022|accessdate=29 March 2023|website=cosafa.com}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{Updated|20 June 2023|{{Soccerway|siyabonga-mabena/898078}}}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Mamelodi Sundowns
|South African Premier Division |4 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=NC|Appearances in the Nedbank Cup}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mabena, Siyabonga}}
Category:South African men's soccer players
Category:South Africa men's youth international soccer players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:South African Premier Division players