Benedict Vilakazi (footballer)

Benedict Vilakazi (born 9 August 1982 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a retired South African football (soccer) player who last played as a midfielder for Botswana Meat Commission in Botswana. He was noted as one of the smallest professional international footballers during his time (standing at a mere 1.57 m) but made up for this with a strong physical presence.

Benedict Vilakazi
Personal information
Full name Benedict Bongani Vilakazi
Date of birth (1982-08-09) 9 August 1982
Place of birth Soweto, South Africa
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Diepkloof Hellenic
Orlando Pirates
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2007 Orlando Pirates 170 (58)
2007–2008 AaB Aalborg 5 (0)
2008–2011 Mamelodi Sundowns 37 (4)
2011 → Mpumalanga Black Aces (loan) 9 (0)
2011–2012 Black Leopards 4 (0)
2013 Malanti Chiefs
2013 Notwane FC
2013–2014 Botswana Meat Commission
National team‡
2002–2007 South Africa 31 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 June 2012
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 June 2011

He was born in Diepkloof, Soweto and is nicknamed "Tso" and "Little Napoleon" due to his leading skills.

Career

Vilakaz played for South Africa at the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt. His professional career was rocked by sex scandals with juveniles including being dragged to court on allegation of statutory rape. He was however acquitted of the charge as it was alleged that it was with consent. The complainant has since given birth to his son. He publicly apologised to soccer fans after his acquittal. The sex scandal also prohibited him going through with his move to the Swedish side Djurgården that was supposed to go through right before the scandal hit.

On 27 July 2007, he was transferred to Danish Superliga club Aalborg BK. He was given a 5-year contract. Due to sickness he had not adjusted to the European style of football, and therefore he played only a few games in the Danish league. Vilakazi returned to South Africa July 2008, signing a contract with Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns, where he was also joined by former FC Copenhagen striker Sibusiso Zuma. After not making an impact at Sundowns, Vilakazi was loaned out to Mpumalanga Black Aces for the 2010–11 PSL season. However, Vilakazi had a fallout with Black Aces' management due to missing several training sessions and other disciplinary problems. Consequently, the Sundowns did not renew his contract after its expiration at the end of the 2010–11 season.

Vilakazi had short spells at Black Leopards and in Swaziland with Malanti Chiefs before moving to Botswana Premier League team Notwane FC in July 2013.[1] In November 2013, he terminated his contract with Notwane after not receiving his salary and signing-on fee,[2] and joined Botswana Meat Commission on a one-year contract.[3]

Tso is now the head coach of Orange Vaal Professionals, a team campaigning in the ABC Motsepe league, the 3rd tier of South African Football.

References
  1. Peral, Diogo (21 July 2013). "Vilakazi Joins Notwane". SoccerLaduma. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  2. "Vilakazi, Ngwenya terminate Notwane contracts". Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  3. "Tso, Shakes join new teams". Retrieved 27 December 2013.
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