Lionel Messi's arrival in the MLS was headline news in 2023, but South Africa was represented by five players at clubs in the league, including three Bafana Bafana internationals! How many appearances did they make and how many goals did they score? We've got all the latest here.
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Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United FC)
The 23-year-old, who joined the Midwest team in January 2022, enjoyed a successful second season in the United States' top division, ending the 2023 campaign with an impressive 22 goal contributions in just 38 appearances. Hlongwane was particularly important for Minnesota in the Leagues Cup, in which he scored seven times to finish second only to Messi in the competition's scoring chart in his team's run to the quarter-final stage. The ex-Maritzburg United midfielder has been a hit in the US, but will see his current deal at the Loons, who finished 11th in the Western Conference, expire at the end of the 2024 season and he will soon need to put some thought into what he wants his career abroad to look like long-term.
Njabulo Blom (St. Louis CITY)
Although he can't get a look-in at the moment on the international stage, having only played twice for South Africa, the opposite is true for the regard he is held in at St. Louis CITY. In the US, the 23-year-old Blom is coached by fellow compatriot Bradley Carnell, who inspired the club, which was founded only four years ago, to a top-of-the-table finish in the MLS Western Conference. Their dream run did come to an unfortunate end following a 2-1 MLS Cup play-off defeat to Kansas City earlier this month, but Blom can be proud of the role he played in his debut season. The former Kaizer Chiefs man enjoyed a starring role in defensive midfield, scoring once and making 30 appearances across four different competitions – the MLS, the MLS Cup, the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup.
Cassius Mailula (Toronto FC)
It has been a tough first few months in the MLS for the 22-year-old, who joined Toronto FC from Mamelodi Sundowns in July. The winger concluded his debut campaign having only made three appearances for the Reds in all competitions, a spell that has ultimately cost him his place in the Bafana Bafana team. Hugo Broos has been vocal about his disapproval of Mailula's switch to Canada-based side, and has even gone as far as to suggest it was the player's agent who tempted the South African with attractive figures. This will undoubtedly be disappointing to Mailula, who was considered a rising star in SA just months ago, but a recent update on Toronto FC's website suggests Mailula is very much in their plans for 2024.
Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union)
Since penning a deal with Philadelphia in July, the 19-year-old centre-back is still awaiting his senior debut. The former Stellenbosch FC defender did, however, make five appearances for the club's second team, four of which came in the MLS Next Pro league and one of them in the MLS Next Pro play-offs. With good experience for his age already in South Africa's DStv Premiership, Union will undoubtedly see Makhanya as a promising player for the future. The Durban native was, though, named in nine matchday squads for the senior team in 2023, including for their 4-1 defeat to Inter Miami at the semi-final stage of the Leagues Cup, a game in which Messi scored!
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Tsiki Ntsabeleng (FC Dallas)
Unlike the four abovementioned footballers, Tsiki Ntsabeleng never played professionally in South Africa before making the move abroad. The winger did spend time at Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, among other local clubs, as a youngster, however, and there are therefore still fans in Mzansi following his career. Ntsabeleng, 25, played 20 times for FC Dallas in the 2023 season, assisting four goals in the MLS.
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