Craig Martin (South African soccer)

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For other people with the same name, see Craig Martin.

Craig Martin
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-08-04) 4 August 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Cape Town, South Africa
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back, right midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
 Chippa United
Number 30
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–2014 Kensington FC
2014–2016 Hellenic
2016–2017 Glendene United
2017–2023 Cape Town City 128 (13)
2023 Orlando Pirates 5 (0)
2023– Chippa United 16 (5)
International career‡
2021– South Africa 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2021

Craig Martin (born 4 August 1993) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a right-back or right midfielder for Chippa United.[2]

Club career[edit]

Born in Cape Town,[3] Martin grew up in the Kensington suburb of Cape Town.[4] He attended Kensington High School and played for Kensington FC.[4] He later spent two seasons with Hellenic and one with Glendene United before signing for Cape Town City in summer 2017.[5][6][4] He made his debut for the club on 22 September 2017 as a 68th-minute substitute for Ayanda Patosi in a 1–0 win over Polokwane City.[3][7] He made his first start the following week in a 2–0 win away to Ajax Cape Town.[3][8] He scored the first goal of his professional career on 21 November 2017 in a 1–1 draw with Baroka.[9] On 20 January 2018, he scored the only goal of the game as Cape Town City beat rivals Ajax Cape Town for the second time that season.[10] He scored 3 goals in 22 league appearances in his first season at the club.[3]

In late 2020, it was reported that Orlando Pirates were interested in signing Martin, leading Cape Town City owner John Comitis to state that he valued the player at R 45,000,000.[11] In January 2021, it was confirmed that Martin had contracted COVID-19.[12] Later that month, he signed a three-year contract extension with the club, ending speculation of a possible transfer to Orlando Pirates.[13]

International career[edit]

Martin was called up to the South Africa national soccer team for the first time in March 2021 for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Ghana and Sudan.[14]

He made his debut on 10 June 2021 in a friendly against Uganda.[15]

Style of play[edit]

Martin can play as a right-back or as a right midfielder.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Craig Martin". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ Craig Martin at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b c d "South Africa - C. Martin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Benni McCarthy backs 'unknown' Craig Martin". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ Hendricks, Joshua (27 February 2021). "Craig Martin interview: The journey to Cape Town City". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Everything has chanced for centurion for Craig Martin after winning first Cape Town City cap". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Absa Premiership match report Cape Town City v Polokwane City 22 September 2017". Kick Off. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Absa Premiership Report: Ajax Cape Town v Cape Town City 30 September 2017". Soccer Laduma. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Baroka, Cape Town City share spoils". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Cape Town City winger Craig Martin had an unforgettable derby experience". Kick Off. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Craig Martin valued at 2.5-million euros, R45-millon amid Orlando Pirates interest". Kick Off. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Cape Town City confirm Thabo Nodada, Mpho Makola and Craig Martin ruled out through Covid-19 infections". Kick Off. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Craig Martin: Reported Orlando Pirates target extends Cape Town City contract | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ^ Gillion, Baden. "CT City's Craig Martin among three players to receive maiden Bafana call-up". Sport. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  15. ^ "South Africa v Uganda game report". ESPN. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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