Dino Ndlovu (born 15 February 1990) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a forward for TFF First League club Sakaryaspor and the South Africa national football team.[2]

Dino Ndlovu
Ndlovu with Qarabağ in 2017
Personal information
Full name Dino Ndlovu[1]
Date of birth (1990-02-15) 15 February 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Klerksdorp, South Africa
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Sakaryaspor
Number 9
Youth career
Dona Young Stars
Motherwell FC (South Africa)
OI Celtic
Digagabi FC
Platinum Stars
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Mamelodi Sundowns 0 (0)
2010–2011Bloemfontein Celtic (loan) 9 (0)
2011–2012 Bnei Yehuda 33 (8)
2012–2015 Maccabi Haifa 29 (10)
2014–2015SuperSport United (loan) 25 (3)
2015Mpumalanga Black Aces (loan) 8 (1)
2015–2016 Anorthosis Famagusta 32 (17)
2016–2018 Qarabağ 36 (15)
2018–2021 Zhejiang Greentown 65 (41)
2021–2022 Kocaelispor 15 (9)
2022 Changchun Yatai 9 (1)
2023 Boluspor 10 (4)
2023– Sakaryaspor 6 (1)
International career
2009 South Africa U23 2 (3)
2012– South Africa 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 October 2018

Early life and career

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Ndlovu hails from Jouberton near Klerksdorp.[3] During his formative years, Ndlovu began playing soccer on the streets and when he was sixteen, he was afforded the opportunity to join an Academy of Excellence. He had to turn down the opportunity, however as it would have left his mother alone at home.[4] He later traveled to Johannesburg where he slept in a train station bathroom for three days in order to attend soccer trials with Platinum Stars. He was offered a contract by the club and initially impressed in front of goal at youth level.[4] His form dipped soon after, however, as the new source of income began to serve as a distraction and Platinum Stars elected not to renew his contract in 2011. At the time he was the breadwinner for his family, which included his pregnant wife.[4]

Club career

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Bnei Yehuda

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Following his release from Platinum Stars, Ndlovu was advised by his agent to leave South Africa. He trialled with Israeli side Bnei Yehuda who signed after just two days.[4]

Anorthosis Famagusta

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Ndlovu joined Anorthosis Famagusta in the 2015 summer, passed to the crowds warm attention on a friendly Anorthosis preparation games. Accomplished 6 goals in preparation friendly games only friendlies.

Qarabağ

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On 12 August 2016 FK Qarabağ announced they had signed Ndlovu to a two-year contract.[5] During the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League campaign, Ndlovu scored an away goal against FC Copenhagen which helped Qarabağ qualify for the group stages of the tournament for the first time in the club's history[4]

Boluspor

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On 10 January 2023, Ndlovu joined TFF First League club Boluspor.[6]

International career

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He was recalled to the national team in October 2018.[7] On 13 October, he was one of South Africa's goalscorers as the nation recorded its largest ever victory with a 6–0 win over Seychelles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.[8]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 7 April 2023[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mamelodi Sundowns 2009–10 Premier Soccer League 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010–11 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bloemfontein Celtic (loan) 2010–11 Premier Soccer League 9 0 1 0 10 0
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 2011–12 Israeli Premier League 33 8 1 1 0 0 34 9
2012–13 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 1 6 2
Total 33 8 1 1 2 1 4 1 0 0 40 11
Maccabi Haifa 2012–13 Israeli Premier League 21 9 4 4 1 2 26 15
2013–14 8 1 0 0 0 0 7 1 15 2
2014–15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 29 10 4 4 1 2 7 1 0 0 41 17
SuperSport United (loan) 2013–14 Premier Soccer League 14 2 1 0 0 0 15 2
2014–15 11 1 0 0 3 0 14 1
Total 25 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 29 3
Mpumalanga Black Aces (loan) 2014–15 Premier Soccer League 8 1 2 1 10 2
Anorthosis Famagusta 2015–16 Cypriot First Division 32 17 3 1 35 18
Qarabağ 2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League 23 10 4 4 7 1 34 15
2017–18 13 5 0 0 9 4 20 8
Total 36 15 4 4 0 0 15 5 0 0 53 21
Zhejiang Greentown 2018 China League One 24 19 0 0 24 19
2019 27 17 0 0 27 17
2020 14 5 0 0 2[a] 1 16 6
Total 65 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 67 41
Kocaelispor 2021–22 TFF First League 15 9 0 0 15 9
Changchun Yatai 2022 Chinese Super League 9 1 0 0 9 1
Boluspor 2022–23 TFF First League 10 4 0 0 10 4
Career total 270 109 16 11 6 3 26 7 2 1 320 131
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in CSL Relegation play-offs

International

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South Africa
Year Apps Goals
2012 3 0
2013 0 0
2014 1 0
2015 0 0
2016 0 0
2017 1 0
2018 1 1
Total 6 1

Statistics accurate as of match played 13 October 2018[10]

International goals

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Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[10]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 13 October 2018 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa   Seychelles 5–0 6–0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: South Africa" (PDF). FIFA. 6 October 2009. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Dino Ndlovu unveiled by Kocaelispor". Kick Off. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ Kickoff Magazine May 2013 p. 32
  4. ^ a b c d e Kinsella, Nizaar (22 November 2017). "The Journey of Qarabag's Dino Ndlovu: From Sleeping in a Train Station toilet to Playing Chelsea". Goal. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Dino Nidlovu rəsmən". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). FK Qarabağ. 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  6. ^ "官方:亚泰外援迪诺加盟土耳其第二级别球队博卢体育" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  7. ^ "South Africa turn to journeyman Ndlovu". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ Molefe, Mazola (13 October 2018). "Bafana Bafana rock Seychelles in record victory". Independent Online. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  9. ^ Dino Ndlovu at Soccerway
  10. ^ a b "Dino Ndlovu". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
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