Benson Mhlongo

Benson Mhlongo
Personal information
Full name Benson Simphiwe Mhlongo
Date of birth (1980-11-09) 9 November 1980
Place of birth Alexandra, South Africa
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Positions
Youth career
Megawatt Park
Alexandra Parma
Supersport United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 → Alexandra United (loan) 15 (0)
1999–2000 → City Sharks (loan) 8 (0)
2001–2005 Wits University 55 (9)
2005–2008 Mamelodi Sundowns 76 (4)
2008–2012 Orlando Pirates 41 (4)
2012–2014 Platinum Stars 49 (2)
2014–2015 Polokwane City 12 (0)
International career
2003–2009 South Africa 37 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Benson Mhlongo (born 9 November 1980) is a South African former professional soccer player who played as a defender and midfielder.

He was part of the South African squad at the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mhlongo worked as a football pundit and drew media attention for his strict criticism of South Africa's national team players. Following Bafana Bafana's 1–1 group stage draw against the Czech Republic, he publicly questioned the commitment and intensity of midfielder Teboho Mokoena, stating that the player was performing at only half his capacity despite scoring the equalizing penalty.[1]

Coaching career

Following his retirement in 2016, joined the Orlando Pirates technical team before becoming head coach of TS Sporting.[2]

Personal life

Mhlongo was married to Pretty Mhlongo. She died in May 2023.[3]

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
120 May 2006Gaborone, Botswana Swaziland1–01–0COSAFA Cup

References

  1. ↑ Andrew Randa (16 June 2026). "A little cocky: Ex-Orlando Pirates star demands more from Mokoena after Czech draw". Footy-Africa. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Why Benson Mhlongo's coaching career is on hold | soccer". SABC. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Ngcobo, Nokuthula (28 May 2023). "Ex Orlando Pirates star Benson Mhlongo mourning loss of his wife". The South African. Retrieved 20 June 2026.


This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.