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GIANTS: The Boy with a ball, family, and faith to rise

rugby17 July 2025 06:00| © SuperSport
By:Clyde Tlou
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Full Name: Thalente Wandile Mbatha
Date of Birth: 6 March 2000
Place of Birth: KwaMashu, Durban, South Africa
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Current Club: Orlando Pirates
Height: 1.64 m

🎬 Coming Soon: Giants – Faith, Family & Football

Thalente Mbatha’s inspiring life story will be featured in the upcoming documentary series Giants, which explores the powerful intersection of faith, family, and football. His journey from being doubted in school to becoming a national star is a testament to resilience, belief, and the power of family.

🌱 Humble Beginnings

Thalente Mbatha’s football journey began in the township of KwaMashu, where he joined local club Real Rabbits at age 10. His talent was evident early on, often playing in multiple age groups simultaneously. He later moved to Durban FC, where his performances earned him a shot at professional football.

 

📚 A Crossroads: School v Soccer

While at primary school, Mbatha’s academic performance began to suffer due to his football commitments. He was always seen with a ball in hand, football was his first love. 

One teacher told him he would amount to nothing in life because all he cared about was football. This led to a meeting with his parents, and the school decided he had to stop playing and was even banned from bringing a ball to school.

 

🗣️ A Coach’s Belief

Just when it seemed like his dream was over, a school soccer coach who had seen his talent stepped in. He approached Mbatha’s mother and insisted that her son was destined to be a star and needed to return to football. That moment reignited his journey. With his mother’s blessing, Mbatha returned to the pitch and never looked back.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family, Faith & Resilience

Thalente is a man of deep faith and strong family values. Raised in a household full of boys, he and his brothers were especially protective of their younger sister, whom they all looked after with pride. His respect for his mother is profound, she remains his biggest supporter.

Even today, she plays a unique role in his career. She often calls him during matches if he’s tackled hard, just to check if he’s okay. Before every game, she sends him Bible verses to uplift and guide him. His faith is central to his life, and he often credits God and his mother for his strength and discipline.

🏃‍♂️ Professional Journey

  • Highlands Park (2020): Made his professional debut.
  • SuperSport United (2020–2024): Developed into a reliable midfield anchor.
  • Orlando Pirates (2024–Present): Joined on loan, starred in the 2023–24 Nedbank Cup final, and earned a permanent deal.

🌍 International Breakthrough

Mbatha made his Bafana Bafana debut in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, scoring in back-to-back matches against Uganda and South Sudan, a dream come true for the KwaMashu-born star.

 

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