Thembi Kgatlana | Instagram

Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (born 2 May 1996) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Spanish Primera División club Atlético Madrid and the South Africa women’s national team.

Early Life and Career

Born on May 2nd, 1996 in South Africa.

In February 2018, Kgatlana moved to the United States to join the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League. She was brought in by her former national team coach Vera Pauw. Kgatlana joined her South African teammates Janine van Wyk and Linda Motlhalo in Houston. Kgatlana made 16 appearances with Houston and she scored 2 goals.

Owing to her accepting a move overseas, Kgatlana was waived by the Houston Dash on 6 February 2019.

On 22 February 2019, Kgatlana was announced as having signed with Beijing BG Phoenix F.C. in the Chinese Women’s Super League on a one-year deal. She was joined by South African teammate Linda Motlhalo who also made the move from Houston to China.

Kgatlana scored six league goals in 10 appearances during the 2019 Chinese Women’s Super League campaign, helping her Beijing BG Phoenix side to a fifth-place finish.

On 27 January 2020 she signed with SL Benfica. On 1 February 2020 she made her debut with the club being subbed on in a 3–1 win over Braga in Taça da Liga Feminina.

Prior to their cancellation owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kgatlana helped Benfica to the final of both Portuguese Cup and Taca da Liga Femenina competitions as well as the top of the league table. The result was enough to qualify the club for the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time in their history.

Kgatlana’s spell at Benfica came to an early end owing to complications arising from the COVID-19 crisis, with a salary cap introduced across Portuguese women’s football. On 27 July 2020, it was announced that she had joined newly promoted Spanish Primera Division side SD Eibar on a one-year contract.[citation needed] Kgatlana made her debut on 4 October 2020 in a 1–0 victory over Real Betis, before opening her goalscoring account the following week in a 2–2 draw against Levante.

On 31 October 2020, Kgatlana scored her second goal for the club on her first start in a 1–0 victory over Espanyol, however she was forced off with the game still in the first half due to a minor injury. Upon her return from injury, she immediately returned to goalscoring form with a stunning strike in a 3–1 defeat to Real Madrid having once again entered from the substitutes bench.

In 2021, Thembi Kgatlana joined Atlético Madrid Femenino.

International Career

Kgatlana represented her country at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations, where she won the Player of the Tournament and was the highest goal scorer. She also represented South Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, where she scored her country’s first goal ever in the tournament.

Boyfriend/ Husband

Thembi Kgatlana is currently single and not in an open relationship for now. Thembi Kgatlana is also not married.

Net Worth

Thembi Kgatlana’s net worth as of 2022 is estimated at around $850, 000 – $2.5 million.

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