Bongani Khumalo

Bongani Khumalo, 2013

Bongani Khumalo ( born January 6, 1987 in Manzini, Swaziland ) is a South African football player.

Career

Khumalo was born in Swaziland, but his family moved already during his childhood to Pretoria. He trained in his youth in Arcadia Shepherds, a club that is known for its promotion of young talent. Between 2005 and 2007, Khumalo played at second division Pretoria University, before joining in the summer of 2007 in the Premier Soccer League at SuperSport United.

In Supersport, he established himself in the defense alongside Ricardo Katza and Morgan Gould. The aerially strong central defender is also a goal threat at set pieces and scored in his first two seasons, a total of seven goals. In both 2008 and 2009 he won the national championship with Super Sport. In 2009 he was honored by the PSL as Young Player of the season.

In March 2008 he made his debut in the South African national team in a friendly match against Zimbabwe. From national coach Joel Santana, he was appointed to the squad for the Confederations Cup in 2009, came in the tournament but not used.

In January 2011, Khumalo joined Tottenham Hotspur. End of March 2011, he was loaned to Preston North End in the second-class Football League Championship. In six inserts but he could not prevent the descent of his team. So Khumalo returned to the 2011/12 season, first to Tottenham back, but was then used for the entire season again awarded in the Football League Championship at Reading FC. After four inserts in the league and one in the Carling Cup, he returned in January 2012 prematurely returned to his original club.

On 18 July 2012, he was loaned for one season to the Greek first division club PAOK Thessaloniki. For the 2013/14 season Khumalo was further awarded to Doncaster Rovers.