CLIFFORD NGOBENI: bio and profile

Clifford Ngobeni is a South African central or right midfielder currently playing in the South African Premier Soccer League for Orlando Pirates.

As a 15-year old, Ngobeni joined the prestigious Ajax Cape Town Youth Academy. His time at the South African top-flight outfit served Clifford well as nowadays his talent is recognized at top international level, with several appearances for South Africa in friendly matches and a trial at Ajax Amsterdam in 2008.

It was Joel Santana who decided to call up Ngobeni to the Bafana Bafana for the first time in September of 2009 for two friendly matches in Europe against Germany and Ireland, as a late replacement for the injured Rubin Kazan midfielder Macbeth Sibaya.

His great overall form and consistent five-star performances for Ajax Cape Town convinced Santana to bring Clifford on board.

The Soweto-born midfielder is under no illusions as to the task facing him as he aims to cement his place in the Bafana Bafana squad during his time at Orlando Pirates, who snapped up the 2007 PSL Young Player of the Year in the summer of July 2010.

Another highlight in the 22-year-old’s career was a call-up to play in a Goal4Africa World Team alongside such legends, Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf in Germany’s Allianz Arena in 2008

• Name: Clifford Ngobeni
• Nationality: South Africa
• Language(s): English, Tsonga & Zulu
• Age: 26
• Date of birth: 27.06.1987
• Place of birth: Soweto (South Africa)
• Marital status: Married (1 child)
• Height: 165cm
• Weight: 70kg
• Position: Central/Right midfield
• Shirt number: 6
• National team: 3 A-caps/ 0 goals, capped at U23 level
• Current club: Mpumalanga Black Aces
• Former club(s): Ajax Cape Town, Orlando Pirates, 
• Contract: 30.06.2014

Statistics current season:

• Games played in: 5
• National Team: –
• Assists: 
• Goals: – 1

Career

SEASON	CLUB	COUNTRY	GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS
2006-2010	Ajax Cape Town	South Africa	74	1	–
2010-Jan ’12	Orlando Pirates FC	South Africa	35	–	2
Jan ’12-July ’13	Golden Arrows	South Africa	14	–	1
July ’13-	Mpumalanga Black Aces	South Africa	5	1	–
TOTAL			128	2	3

Awards

• ABSA Cup: Champion 2007
• Telkom Knockout: Champion 2008

Awards

• PSL Young Player of the Year 2007

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