George Matlou

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George Matlou
Personal information
Full name Lehlogonolo George Matlou
Date of birth (1998-07-12) 12 July 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Soweto, South Africa
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Kaizer Chiefs
Number 22
Youth career
Charlton Athletic[2]
Orlando Pirates
Bidvest Wits
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Bidvest Wits 0 (0)
2017–2018 → Cape Town All Stars (loan) 5 (0)
2018–2019 → Cape Umoya United (loan) 18 (1)
2019–2021 Sanjoanense 39 (2)
2021–2022 Moroka Swallows 17 (0)
2022– Kaizer Chiefs 19 (0)
International career‡
South Africa U20
2022 South Africa 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 April 2024

Lehlogonolo George Matlou (born 12 July 1998) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League.

Born in Soweto,[3] Matlou was an U14 player at Orlando Pirates before joining the U15 team of Bidvest Wits in 2013.[2] He overcame a career-threatening leg break which he suffered during the Metropolitan school tournament.[4] Matlou came back to play for South Africa U20, among others in the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup.[5] Following National First Division loan stints with Cape Town All Stars and Cape Umoya United, Bidvest Wits went defunct and Matlou went to Portugal to play for Sanjoanense in the third tier.[2][1] In 2021 he claimed to have been called a "little monkey" by a referee.[6]

Returning to South Africa and Moroka Swallows, he made his first-tier debut in the 2021-22 South African Premier Division.[1] He impressed enough, being called a "ball wizard" by The South African, to be bought by Kaizer Chiefs in the summer of 2022.[7] He was called up for South Africa to play a 2022 African Nations Championship qualification match against the Comoros.[3]

Matlou struggled to break through and establish himself as a regular in Kaizer Chiefs.[8][9][10] In 2024 it was reported that Kaizer Chiefs would not renew Matlou's contract, due to expire in the summer.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c George Matlou at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "From Pirates Juniors To Chiefs First Team: 'I Felt Like I Was Dreaming'". Soccer Laduma. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b George Matlou at National-Football-Teams.com
  4. ^ Msomi, Smiso (5 December 2022). "Kaizer Chiefs' George Matlou reveals how he overcame career-threatening injury". IOL. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ^ "South Africa, Lesotho to clash in final". COSAFA. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  6. ^ Ngcatshe, Phumzile (10 May 2021). "South African Footballer George Matlou Racially Abused in Portugal". Briefly. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  7. ^ Gwegwe, Siseko (20 June 2022). "Swallows accept Kaizer Chiefs' bid for elegant midfielder". The South African. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  8. ^ "George Matlou patiently waiting for his time at Kaizer Chiefs". Soccer News 24. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  9. ^ Monoalibe, Siyasanga (17 September 2023). "Ntseki impressed by George Matlou's impact". Sunday World. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  10. ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (28 September 2023). "Matlou On His Poor Start At Chiefs". iDiski Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Matlou facing uncertain future at Kaizer Chiefs". The Citizen. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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