Tapelo Xoki

Thapelo Xoki (born Thapelo Nyongo; 10 April 1995) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for South African Premier Division side Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team.^[1]

Thapelo Xoki

Personal information
Birth name	Thapelo Nyongo
Date of birth	(1995-04-10) 10 April 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Khayelitsha, Greenpoint phase 2South Africa
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Orlando Pirates
Number	27
Youth career
0000–2012	Cape Town Liverpool
2012–2014	Old Mutual Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2022	AmaZulu	138	(9)
2022–	Orlando Pirates	79	(8)
International career‡
2024–	South Africa	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 March 2024

Early and personal life

He was born in Khayelitsha in Cape Town.^[2] He attended Thembelihle Senior Secondary School.^[3]

He changed his surname from Nyongo to Xoki in 2019.^[4]

Club career

He started playing for Cape Town Liverpool before joining the Old Mutual Academy in Cape Town in 2012. He joined AmaZulu in 2014, signing his first professional contract lasting until summer 2017. On June 13, 2022, the defender made a move to the Soweto Giants, Orlando Pirates.^[2][3][5]

International career

Xoki made his debut for the senior South Africa national team on 21 March 2024 in a friendly against Andorra.^[6]

Honours

South Africa

• Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023^[7]