| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thalente Wandile Mbatha | ||
| Date of birth | (2000-03-06)6 March 2000 (age 25) | ||
| Place of birth | KwaMashu, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pirates | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020 | Highlands Park | 4 | (0) |
| 2020–2024 | SuperSport United | 23 | (0) |
| 2024– | Orlando Pirates | 12 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | South Africa | 10 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 October 2025 | |||
Thalente Wandile Mbatha (born 6 March 2000) is a South Africansoccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder forPremier Soccer League sideOrlando Pirates and theSouth African national team.
Mbatha scored on his international debut in 2024 against Uganda.[1]
At the age of 10, Thalente Mbatha began his football journey with local amateur club Real Rabbits, where he played for the Under-11, Under-13, and Under-15 teams. By the time he was 13, his talent saw him competing across multiple age groups, featuring for the Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 squads.
As he progressed through his teenage years, he joined Durban FC, further developing his skills and gaining recognition. His performances earned him a move to professional football, where he signed with Highlands Park FC in the South African Premier League.
He played for Tshwane based sideSuperSport United.[2][3]
In January 2024, he joined Soweto based clubOrlando Pirates on a 6-month contract with the option for a permanent move.[4] He played his first final in the2023-24 Nedbank Cup final againstMamelodi Sundowns. Mbatha was voted man of the match in the 2-1 win for Pirates.[5] His deal was extended for the2024-25 PSL season.[6]
Mbatha debuted for theSouth Africa men's national team in the2025 Afcon qualifiers on 6 September 2024 againstUganda and scored on debut to help the side salvage a draw.[7][8]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6 September 2024 | Orlando Stadium,Soweto, South Africa |  Uganda | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2. | 10 September 2024 | Juba Stadium,Juba, South Sudan |  South Sudan | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3. | 14 October 2025 | Mbombela Stadium,Mbombela, South Africa |  Rwanda | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Orlando Pirates