Katlego Jackson Maphathe (born 23 April 1993) is a South African

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

player who plays as a midfielder for Durban City in the

National First Division The South African Championship, officially known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest league of South African football after the South African Premiership. Both the South African Championship and ...

. He hails from

Botshabelo Botshabelo, meaning "a place of refuge", is a large Township (South Africa), township set up in 1979. It is located east of Bloemfontein in the present-day Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa. Botshabelo is no ...

. He was a youth player in

Bloemfontein Celtic Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club (simply known as Celtic) is a South African soccer club based in Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein Celtic had a large fan base in the Free State and competed in the Premiership before selling their status to Royal ...

and started his senior career in Roses United in the second tier. After that, he joined the development squad of

Free State Stars Free State Stars Football club was a South African professional soccer club based in Bethlehem, Free State that played in the National First Division. Formerly known as Makwane Computer Stars, Fairway Stars and Qwa Qwa Stars, their most signi ...

, but went on loan to

African Warriors African Warriors is a South African association football, football club based in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State (South African province), Free State. Managers * Vladislav Heric (Dec 7, 2010—25 Oct, 2011) * David Vilakazi (March 2014— Dec 2014) * ...

before joining the team permanently. In the

2016–17 National First Division The 2016–17 National First Division was the season from August 2016 to May 2017 of South Africa's second tier of professional soccer, the National First Division. League table Play-offs ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- See also * 2016-17 ...

, he played for

Thanda Royal Zulu Thanda Royal Zulu was a South African football club based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. History The club started after a Swedish consortium that included Sven-Goran Eriksson bought the franchise from Benoni Premier United at the end of the 2 ...

. The team won the championship but was not promoted to the Premier Division, since the owners sold the rights to

AmaZulu Zulu people (; ) are a native people of Southern Africa of the Nguni people, Nguni. The Zulu people are the largest Ethnic groups in South Africa, ethnic group and nation in South Africa, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. They o ...

. Maphathe joined

Richards Bay Richards Bay () is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, which makes it one of the country's largest harbours. Richards Bay also has the deepest natural harbour on the Africa ...

, also on the second tier. He gained recognition when Richards Bay eliminated

Kaizer Chiefs Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) is a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premiership. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Kings" or "Chiefs" in Zu ...

from the

2020–21 Nedbank Cup The 2020–21 Nedbank Cup is the 2020–21 edition of South Africa's premier knockout club football (soccer) competition, the Nedbank Cup. As a result of the suspension of amateur football due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike in previous years, ...

, being named man of the match. Having played ten straight seasons in the second tier, Maphathe helped Richards Bay win promotion from the

2021–22 National First Division The 2021–22 National First Division (called the GladAfrica Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the season from 21 August 2021 to 15 May 2022 of South Africa's second tier of professional soccer, the National First Division. Teams Stadiu ...

to the 2022-23 South African Premier Division and played as a team regular. Maphathe was the team

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. Following his performances in 2022–23, Maphathe was named in the preliminary

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

squad for the

2023 COSAFA Cup The 2023 COSAFA Cup was the 22nd edition of the annual association football competition organized by COSAFA. It was held in South Africa for the sixth straight year, this time in Durban, from 5 to 16 July 2023. Zambia were the defending champi ...

. Having played four games of the 2023–24 South African Premier Division, Maphathe's contract with Richards Bay was suddenly discontinued. The club's decision was described as a "big shock", and may have been financially motivated. Maphathe considered taking the club to a legal tribunal. He was, however, picked up by

Cape Town Spurs A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment of any length that hangs loosely and connects either at the neck or shoulders. They usually cover the back, shoulders, and arms. They come in a variety of styles and have been used th ...

during the winter transfer window.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maphathe, Katlego 1993 births Living people South African men's soccer players Men's association football midfielders Roses United F.C. players African Warriors F.C. players Thanda Royal Zulu F.C. players Richards Bay F.C. players Cape Town Spurs F.C. players Durban City F.C. (2024) players National First Division players South African Premier Division players Soccer players from the Free State (province) 21st-century South African sportsmen