Thubelihle Mavuso

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Thubelihle Mavuso

| fullname =

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|6|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Eswatini

| height =

| position = Midfielder, Forward

| currentclub = Nsingizini Hotspurs

| clubnumber = 10

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2022–

| clubs1 = Nsingizini Hotspurs

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| nationalyears1 = 2024–

| nationalteam1 = Eswatini

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalteam-update = 16:08, 16 July 2022 (UTC)

}}

Thubelihle Mavuso (born 6 October 2001) is a Liswati footballer who plays for Premier League of Eswatini club Nsingizini Hotspurs and the Eswatini national team.

Club career

Mavuso played with Ezulwini United and Mhlume Peacemakers before joining Premier League of Eswatini club Nsingizini Hotspurs in 2022. That year, he was named the Player of the Tournament in the inaugural MoMo Cup and Man of the Match in the tournament final in which Hotspurs earned a 2–1 victory over Moneni Pirates to win the championship.{{cite web |last1=Mgcini |first1=Dube |title=THUBELIHLE RAKES IN E12K IN MOMO CUP |url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=19268 |publisher=Eswatini Observer |access-date=11 October 2024}} Hotspurs won the competition again in 2023, this time defeating Mbabane Swallows in the final. Mavuso was again named Player of the Match for the game against Swallows and Player of the Tournament.{{cite web |last1=Dube |first1=Mgcini |title=THUBELIHLE MOMO CUP’S BEST |url=https://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21270 |publisher=Eswatini Observer |access-date=11 October 2024}}

In March 2023, Mavuso traveled to Italy for a one-month trial with an unnamed club.{{cite web |last1=Mabuza |first1=Mengameli |title=Two PLE Youngsters Off to Italy |url=http://www.times.co.sz/sports/139051-two-ple-youngsters-off-to-italy.html |publisher=Times of Eswatini |access-date=11 October 2024}} In May 2024, he was named Nsingizini Hotspurs's Players' Player and Player of the Season Award winner following the 2023–24 Swazi Premier League season.{{cite web |last1=Dlamini |first1=Lwazi |title=Thubelihle is Nsingizini Hotspurs' Best |url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-daily-news-9y77/20240527/281930253105283?srsltid=AfmBOopRrO-cUWdlzectXW2HgX64gyZMPgPqsxa9FONaz_yDxg-tYKy7 |publisher= Daily News |access-date=11 October 2024}} At that time, it was also announced that one of the club's sponsors was to finance a trial to a top unnamed club in Israel for the player.{{cite web |last1=Dlamini |first1=Lwazi |title=FOCUS ON NSINGIZINI HOTSPURS END-OF-SEASON AWARDS 2024 |url=https://swazidailynews.com/2024/05/28/focus-on-nsingizini-hotspurs-end-of-season-awards-2024/amp/ |publisher=Eswatini Daily News |access-date=11 October 2024}}

Later in summer 2024, former Kaizer Chiefs player Humphrey Mlwane urged his former club to sign Mavuso following his impressive performances for Eswatini at the 2024 COSAFA Cup.{{cite web |last1=Sithole |first1=Nkosiyabuya |title=‘They must take them’: Ex-Kaizer Chiefs midfielder urge club to sign Eswatini duo |url=https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-za/they-must-take-them-ex-kaizer-chiefs-midfielder-urge-club-to-sign-eswatini-duo |publisher=Afrik-Foot |access-date=11 October 2024}} Soon thereafter, he then competed with Nsingizini Hotspurs in its 2024–25 CAF Confederation Cup matches against Stellenbosch of the South African Premiership.{{cite web |last1=Masilela |first1=Sibusiso |title=NsingizinI Out to Impress |url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-financial-times-9y78/20240817/282943865602293 |publisher=Eswatini Financial Times |access-date=11 October 2024}}

International career

Mavuso was a member of the national under-20 team as a youth, including at the 2022 COSAFA U-20 Cup.{{cite web |last1=Dlamini |first1=Lwazi |title=Sihlangu’s future is in safe hands as the Under-20 squad shows a lot of potential |url=https://eswatinifinancialtimes.africa/sihlangus-future-is-in-safe-hands-as-the-under-20-squad-shows-a-lot-of-potential/ |publisher=Eswatini Financial Times |access-date=11 October 2024}} He received a call-up to the senior national team in March 2024 for a pair of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Somalia.{{cite web |last1=Dlamini |first1=Lwazi |title=Can Sihlangu drown the 'Ocean Stars' again? |url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-daily-news-9y77/20240320/281921663033775?srsltid=AfmBOooIJZfdPmdDOXx7ZqXzFYMUYq0SLdEzGyfGzJ0bZbj0PRRo_i0R |publisher=Eswatini Daily News |access-date=11 October 2024}} He went on to make his debut on 20 March in the first match of the series.{{cite web |title=NFT profile |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/94253/Thubelihle_Mavuso.html |publisher=National Football Teams |access-date=11 October 2024}} He scored his first senior international goal on 11 October 2024 against Mozambique in the Group Stage of qualification. His late strike from sixteen yards out leveled the score at and helped secure a point for Eswatini.{{cite web |title=Mavuso denies Mozambique victory in Maputo |url=https://supersport.com/football/africa-cup-qual/news/67cc9452-1729-478b-9035-6e55fb8c1ed3/mavuso-denies-mozambique-victory-in-maputo |access-date=11 October 2024}}