.jpg) Hlongwane withMinnesota United in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (2000-06-20)20 June 2000 (age 24) | ||
| Place of birth | South Africa | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward,winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Minnesota United | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Nxamalala Fast XI | |||
| 2019–2022 | Maritzburg United | 55 | (7) |
| 2022– | Minnesota United | 98 | (21) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019– | South Africa | 19 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023 | |||
Bongokuhle Hlongwane (born 20 June 2000) is a South African professionalsoccer player who plays as aforward forMajor League Soccer clubMinnesota United and theSouth African national team.
Hlongwane grew up in Nxamalala studying at Umthoqotho High School, Sweetwaters,Pietermaritzburg and played for Nxamalala Fast XI in theSAFA Regional League before joiningMaritzburg United's academy.[2] He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 defeat toOrlando Pirates in April 2019 and scored his first goal for the club a month later againstTshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the relegation play-offs.[2] He was nominated for the South African Premier Division Young Player of the Season award for the 2020–21 campaign.[3] In July 2021, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[4]
On 5 January 2022,MLS clubMinnesota United announced the signing of Hlongwane to a three-year contract with a one-year club option.[5]
Hlongwane was first called up to theSouth African national team in July 2019,[2] and made his international debut on 28 July as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat toLesotho.[6] On 8 June 2021, he made his second appearance and full debut for South Africa againstUganda and scored his first international goal following a "fortunate deflection" in a 3–2 win.[7] On 6 September 2021, he scored againstGhana in aWorld Cup qualifier as South Africa won 1–0.[8]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Maritzburg United | 2018–19 | SAPD | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2019–20 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 23 | 3 | ||
| 2021–22 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
| Total | 53 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 58 | 7 | ||
| Minnesota United | 2022 | MLS | 30 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 30 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 17 | ||
| 2024 | 35 | 11 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 11 | |||
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 98 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 30 | ||
| Career total | 151 | 27 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 169 | 37 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 19 | 4 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 June 2021 | Orlando Stadium,Johannesburg, South Africa |  Uganda | 2–1 | 3–2 | Friendly | [11] |
| 2 | 6 September 2021 | FNB Stadium,Johannesburg, South Africa |  Ghana | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [12] |
| 3 | 17 November 2022 | Mbombela Stadium,Mbombela, South Africa |  Mozambique | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly | |
| 4 | 2–1 |