Mandla Masango facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mandla Grateful Masango | ||
| Date of birth | 18 July 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Kwaggafontein, South Africa | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Right winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Mega Force | |||
| HP Silver Stars | |||
| Walter Stars | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2015 | Kaizer Chiefs | 105 | (11) |
| 2015–2018 | Randers FC | 29 | (7) |
| 2017 | → SuperSport United (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006 | South Africa U-17 | 3 | (2) |
| 2009 | South Africa U-20 | 4 | (1) |
| 2011 | South Africa U-23 | 3 | (3) |
| 2013– | South Africa | 13 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 June 2016 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 January 2015 |
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Mandla Grateful Masango was born on July 18, 1989. He is a talented South African footballer. He played as a right winger, which is a player who attacks from the side of the field. Mandla Masango most recently played for Randers in Denmark. He also proudly represented South Africa in many youth teams. He became a full international player for the senior national team in 2013.
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Club Career Highlights
Playing for Kaizer Chiefs
Mandla Masango joined Kaizer Chiefs, a famous South African football club, in 2007. This was just before the 2007–08 Premier Soccer League season began. He played his very first game for the Chiefs on August 15, 2007. In that game against Thanda Royal Zulu, he scored the first goal, helping his team win 2–0.
Over time, Mandla became a regular player for the club. He played ten league games in the 2009–10 season. The next season, 2010–11, he played in 20 league matches. He also scored for Kaizer Chiefs in a 2–0 win against Mpumalanga Black Aces in February 2010.
In the 2012–13 season, Kaizer Chiefs won both the league and a cup. Mandla played in nine league games that season. In 2013–14, he made his debut in the CAF Champions League. He scored an amazing scissor kick goal in a 3–0 win. He also scored a diving header in a cup match.
Mandla started the 2014–15 season very well. He scored two goals in a 4–0 win against Mpumalanga Black Aces in the MTN8 cup. He also scored a winning goal against Bloemfontein Celtic in August 2014. In September 2014, Mandla Masango was named the ABSA Premiership Player of the Month. He played in the 2014 MTN8 Final, where Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates 1–0. Mandla scored a penalty goal against Maritzburg United later that month.
His great performances caught the eye of clubs from other countries. Rennes, a club from France, was interested in signing him. On May 9, 2015, Mandla played his last game for Kaizer Chiefs. He scored a header in a 2–0 win against Chippa United.
Moving to Randers
On August 13, 2015, it was announced that Mandla Masango had agreed to join Randers in Denmark. He moved there as a free player, meaning Randers did not have to pay a transfer fee. Mandla made his first appearance for Randers on August 30, 2015. He scored the second goal in their 2–0 victory over AaB.
How Mandla Masango Plays
Mandla Masango is a lean and quick player. His former coach, Muhsin Ertugral, compared him to a "maverick genius" because of his ability to understand and change the game. He was also praised for creating space and bravely taking on defenders.
Mandla usually plays as a right winger. He can also play as a secondary striker or an attacking midfielder. Experts have suggested that he is very good at finishing goals, which means he is good at scoring. He is also known for his good balance on the field.
Mandla Masango's Life Off the Field
Beyond football, Mandla Masango is also focused on his education. He has a diploma in General Management. He has also studied project management at Boston City Campus.
International Career
Mandla Masango has a special record: he scored a goal in his very first game for every national team he played for!
Playing for Youth Teams
Mandla played three games for the South Africa Under-17 team, scoring two goals. He then moved to the Under-20 team, where he played four times. Three of these games were in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored a goal in a warm-up match against Germany U-20 in September 2009.
He also played for the Under-23 team. He scored on his debut in a 2–1 win against Zimbabwe. This win helped South Africa qualify for the All Africa Games. He also scored in friendly matches against Mauritius and Botswana.
Playing for the Senior National Team
Mandla made his senior debut for the South Africa national team on July 17, 2013. This was just before his birthday. He scored in his second match, helping South Africa win a bronze medal in the 2013 COSAFA Cup.
He was called up to the national team again for the AFCON qualifiers. He felt it was "destiny" to play against Sudan, as his first international call-up nine years earlier was also against Sudan for the Under-17 team. He played in a 3–0 win over Sudan and a 0–0 draw against Nigeria.
Mandla scored an amazing "stepback volley" goal against Ghana in the 2015 African Cup of Nations. This goal was so impressive that it was compared to a famous goal by Colombia's James Rodriguez. Many described his goal as "ridiculous, outrageous and impossibly perfect."
International Goals for South Africa
Here are some of the goals Mandla Masango scored for the senior South Africa team:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 20 July 2013 | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola |  Lesotho |
1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 27 January 2015 | Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo |  Ghana |
1–0 | 1–2 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 3. | 25 March 2015 | Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba |  Swaziland |
3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 4. | 5 July 2015 | Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel |  Mauritius |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2016 African Nations Championship qualification |
U-20 Appearances and Goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 September 2009 | Sportpark Husterhöhe, Pirmasens | Germany U-20 | L 6–1 | Friendly | 1 |
| 2 | 27 September 2009 | Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria | United Arab Emirates U-20 | D 2–2 | 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup | |
| 3 | 30 September 2009 | Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria | Hungary U-20 | L 4–0 | 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup | |
| 4 | 6 October 2009 | Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia | Ghana U-20 | L 2–1 | 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup |
