photo: IMAGO | Newscom World

Thembi Kgatlana

May 2, 1996

#16 - Midfielder

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Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana is a South African forward who represented South Africa at the senior international level and has played in clubs across six different countries (United States, China, Portugal, Spain, and Mexico) and has won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

Did You Know?

She grew up in Mohlakeng, a small town in Randfontein, South Africa, where she first started playing football with boys on dirt pitches at the age of eight.

Her mother originally wanted her to be a track athlete, as her mother had been a runner herself.

She is a published author, having co-written a children's book titled Girls Don’t Do That and a biography titled Strike a Rock: The Thembi Kgatlana Story.

Before every game, she performs a personal devotion that involves reading the Bible and praying to stay calm and focused.

Source: Instagram

In 2017, she founded the Thembi Kgatlana Foundation, which hosts an annual tournament in her hometown to support youth and donate essentials like sanitary pads and school uniforms.

She enjoys high-intensity off-pitch training including boxing, aerobics, and sprints to maintain her speed.

Club Achievements

South Africa Women's Africa Cup of Nations	1×
Mexico Campeón de Campeonas	1×
South Africa COSAFA Women's Championship	1×

Awards

CAF African Women's Footballer of the Year

1×

CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations Best Player

1×

CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations Top Scorer

1×

CAF African Goal of the Year

1×

Cyprus Cup Best Player

1×

COSAFA Women's Championship Player of the Tournament

1×

Stats

Year	Club	AP	GL
2024 - present	Tigres UANL	51	18
2022 - 2023	Racing Louisville	18	2
2021 - 2022	Atlético Madrid	25	6
2020 - 2021	SD Eibar	27	10
2020 -	Benfica	2	3
2019 -	Beijing BG Phoenix	10	6
2018 -	Houston Dash	16	2
2014 - 2017	Univ. of the Western Cape
International Stats
2014 -	South Africa	83	32