Tapelo Xoki
{{short description|South African soccer player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Thapelo Xoki
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_name = Thapelo Nyongo
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Khayelitsha, Greenpoint phase 2South Africa
| height = 1.84 m
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Orlando Pirates
| clubnumber = 27
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012
| youthclubs1 = Cape Town Liverpool
| youthyears2 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs2 = Old Mutual Academy
| years1 = 2014–2022
| clubs1 = AmaZulu
| caps1 = 138
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2022–
| clubs2 = Orlando Pirates
| caps2 = 79
| goals2 = 8
| nationalyears1 = 2024– | nationalteam1 = South Africa | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 30 June 2024
| nationalteam-update = 21 March 2024
}}
Thapelo Xoki (born Thapelo Nyongo; 10 April 1995) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for South African Premier Division side Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team.{{soccerway|tapelo-nyongo/348271|accessdate=22 October 2022}}
Early and personal life
He was born in Khayelitsha in Cape Town.{{Cite web |date=27 June 2020 |title=SLTV – 'You Have To Have A Strong Mentality' |url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/soccer-laduma-tv/news/articles/categories/multimedia-laduma-tv/amazulu-fc-centre-back-tapelo-xoki-caught-up-with-soccer-laduma-to-share-his-football-journey-the-re/680563 |access-date=15 October 2020 |website=Soccer Laduma}} He attended Thembelihle Senior Secondary School.
He changed his surname from Nyongo to Xoki in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Madlala |first=Robin-Duke |date=20 August 2019 |title=AMAZULU VOW TO FRUSTRATE BUCS! |work=Daily Sun |url=https://www.dailysun.co.za/Sport/amazulu-vow-to-frustrate-bucs-20190819 |access-date=15 October 2020}}
Club career
He started playing for Cape Town Liverpool before joining the Old Mutual Academy in Cape Town in 2012. He joined AmaZulu in 2014, signing his first professional contract lasting until summer 2017. On June 13, 2022, the defender made a move to the Soweto Giants, Orlando Pirates.{{Cite news |last=Busakwe |first=Lonwabo |date=6 September 2014 |title=I want to play in Belgium, says Cape's Nyongo |work=Weekend Argus |url=https://www.pressreader.com/article/282286728457691 |access-date=15 October 2020 |via=pressreader.com}}{{Cite web |title=Tapelo Xoki |url=https://www.amazulufc.net/the-club-2/teamplayer-profiles/tapelo-nyongo-2/ |access-date=15 October 2020 |website=amazulufc.net |publisher=AmaZulu F.C.}}
International career
Xoki made his debut for the senior South Africa national team on 21 March 2024 in a friendly against Andorra.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/698287/andorra-south-africa|title=Andorra v South Africa game report|date=21 March 2024}}
Honours
South Africa
- Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Piers |date=10 February 2024 |title=South Africa 0–0 DR Congo |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68190249 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212015031/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68190249 |archive-date=12 February 2024 |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{South Africa squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xoki, Tapelo}}
Category:South African men's soccer players
Category:South Africa men's international soccer players
Category:People from the City of Cape Town
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Orlando Pirates F.C. players
Category:South African Premier Division players
Category:National First Division players
Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:21st-century South African sportsmen
{{SouthAfrica-footy-defender-stub}}