Kobamelo Kodisang (born 28 August 1999) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a right winger for Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns and the South Africa national football team. He became one of the youngest players to ever play in the Premier Soccer League when he made his debut at the age of 15 in August 2015.[1]

Kobamelo Kodisang
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-08-28) 28 August 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Seraleng, South Africa
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Right winger
Team information
Current team
Mamelodi Sundowns
Number 45
Youth career
0000–2015 Platinum Stars
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Platinum Stars 19 (0)
2017–2019 Bidvest Wits 4 (1)
2018–2019Sanjoanense (loan) 23 (4)
2019–2022 Braga B 56 (16)
2022–2023 Braga 1 (0)
2022–2023Moreirense (loan) 29 (11)
2023–2024 Moreirense 31 (1)
2024– Mamelodi Sundowns 0 (0)
International career
2015 South Africa U17 3 (0)
2017–2019 South Africa U20 14 (0)
2019–2021 South Africa U23 8 (1)
2023– South Africa 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:24, 10 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

edit

Born in the small town of Seraleng (near Rustenburg),[2] Kodisang was first discovered at the age of ten by Cavin Johnson, then-manager of Platinum Stars.[3] He joined the youth team shortly after, and initially received media attention after an impressive performance at the 2014/15 MultiChoice Diski Challenge tournament, including scoring two goals to lead his team to a comeback win against Orlando Pirates.[2][4]

He was called up to the senior squad for the 2015–16 season, and made his professional debut on 26 August 2015, replacing Robert Ng'ambi after the 85th minute of a 2–0 win against Golden Arrows. At the age of 15 years, 363 days, he became one of the youngest players to ever play in the Premier Soccer League, and the youngest in the past six years.[1]

Kodisang was signed by Portuguese club Sanjoanense on 28 September 2018 on a season-long loan deal.[5] In mid-August 2019, he joined S.C. Braga B.[6]

On 2 August 2022, Kodisang joined Moreirense in Liga Portugal 2 on a season-long loan, with an option to buy.[7]

On 28 June 2023, after achieving promotion to the Primeira Liga, Moreirense announced the permanent signing of Kodisang on a four-year contract,[8] for a reported fee of €500.000.[9]

International career

edit

Kodisang was selected to represent the South African national under-17 team at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile,[10] and played in all three matches (against Costa Rica, North Korea and Russia). South Africa, however, got eliminated in the group stage with a record of one draw, two losses.[citation needed]

Kodisang made his debut for the South Africa senior team on 9 September 2023, starting in a 0–0 draw at home to Namibia, in a friendly match.[11]

Honours

edit

Moreirense

Individual

  • Liga Portugal 2 Team of the Season: 2022–23[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Dikwena's 15-year-old Joins Select Few". Soccer Laduma. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Diski player profile: Kobamelo Kodisang". SuperSport. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  3. ^ Xulu, Sim (17 October 2015). "Johnson: Foppe De Haan wanted to take Amajimbos star Kodisang to Europe". Goal. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Kobamelo Kodisang's Debut in the PSL" (Press release). Platinum Stars F.C. 29 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  5. ^ Bidvest Wits midfielder Kobamelo Kodisang secures move to Portuguese club AD Sanjoanense, goal.com, 28 September 2018
  6. ^ Kodisang switches Wits for Braga, sportsclub.co.za, 15 August 2019
  7. ^ "KOBAMELO KODISANG REFORÇA MOREIRENSE" [KOBAMELO KODISANG STRENGTHENS MOREIRENSE] (in Portuguese). Moreirense F.C. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Kodisang continua em Moreira de Cónegos" [Kodisang remains in Moreira de Cónegos]. Moreirense FC (in European Portuguese). 28 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Moreirense oficializa Kobamelo Kodisang" [Moreirense announces Kobamelo Kodisang] (in European Portuguese). Record. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. ^ "South Africa u17 squad for Chile 2015 named" (Press release). South African Football Association. 27 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Blunt Bafana Bafana frustrated by Namibia as Foster and Saleng fire blanks against Brave Warriors". Goal. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Moreirense FC é o novo Campeão da Liga Portugal SABSEG" [Moreirense FC is Liga Portugal SABSEG's new Champion]. Liga Portugal (in European Portuguese). 6 May 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Kodisang completa 11 do ano da Liga Portugal SABSEG" [Kodisang completes Liga Portugal SABSEG's XI of the Year]. Liga Portugal (in European Portuguese). 25 June 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
edit