Tsiki Ntsabeleng

Katlego "Tsiki" Ntsabeleng (born 9 February 1998) is a South African soccer player who plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.

Tsiki Ntsabeleng
Personal information
Full name Katlego Ntsabeleng
Date of birth (1998-02-09) 9 February 1998
Place of birth Daveyton, South Africa[1]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward, winger
Club information
Current team
 FC Dallas
Number 16
Youth career
Stars of Africa
Kaizer Chiefs
Mamelodi Sundowns
University of Johannesburg
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 28 (9)
2020–2021 Oregon State Beavers 25 (6)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Reading United 5 (0)
2022– FC Dallas 5 (1)
National team‡
2017 South Africa U20 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:54, 26 April 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 01:05, 27 February 2022 (UTC)

Career

Youth and college

Born in Daveyton in South Africa, Ntsabeleng spent time with various clubs in South Africa including the Stars of Africa Academy team, which he joined in 2014.[2] Ntsabeleng also appeared for the reserve teams of Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, before attending the University of Johannesburg, where he also played soccer.[3][4][5]

In 2018, Ntsabeleng moved to the United States to play college soccer at Coastal Carolina University. In two seasons with the Chanticleers, he made 28 appearances, scoring nine goals and tallying eight assists. In his junior season, he earned All-Sun Belt First Team, Sun Belt Championship All-Tournament Team, United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region, and the Sun Belt's Newcomer of the Year. In 2019, he was again named Sun Belt First Team All-Conference.[6]

After earning his degree, Ntsabeleng enrolled in a graduate program at Oregon State University where he played seasons with the Beavers, netting six goals and tallying ten assists in 25 appearances. He was named All-Pac-12 First Team and All-Far West Region First Team in his senior season.[7]

While at college, Ntsabeleng played with USL League Two side Reading United during their 2019 season. He made five appearances for the team, finishing with a single assist to his name.[8]

Professional

On 11 January 2022, Ntsabeleng was selected 28th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. On 11 February 2022, he signed a one-year deal with the club.[9] He made his professional debut on 26 February 2022, appearing as a 77th-minute substitute during a 1–1 draw with Toronto FC.[10]

Ntsabeleng scored his first FC Dallas goal on 23 April 2022 vs Houston Dynamo, an 87th minute equalizer after appearing as a substitute in a come from behind 2-1 victory for FCD.[11]

References
  1. "A UJ soccer star has signed with an American club". 19 February 2022.
  2. "Meet UJ football maverick Katlego 'Tsiki' Ntsabeleng •". varsitysportssa.com. 7 September 2016.
  3. "Ntsabeleng: Former Kaizer Chiefs youngster joins MLS side FC Dallas | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  4. "Farouk Khan: Ntsabeleng signing at FC Dallas an indictment on SA scouting". TimesLIVE.
  5. "Johannesburg to Dallas: How Tsiki Ntsabeleng Forged Pro Career Despite Naysayers | FC Dallas". fcdallas.
  6. "Tsiki Ntsabeleng - Men's Soccer". Coastal Carolina University Athletics.
  7. "Tsiki Ntsabeleng - Men's Soccer". Oregon State University Athletics.
  8. "Reading United AC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  9. "FC Dallas Signs 2022 MLS SuperDraft No. 28 Overall Pick Tsiki Ntsabeleng | FC Dallas". fcdallas.
  10. "DALvsTOR 02-26-2022 home | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  11. "Comeback season! FC Dallas snatch Texas Derby win from Houston Dynamo FC | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
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