Toni Nhleko

Nkosinathi Nhleko (born 24 July 1979, in Ermelo) is a retired South African soccer player who last played as a striker for Kaizer Chiefs.

Nkosinathi Nhleko
Personal information
Full name Nkosinathi Nhleko
Date of birth (1979-07-24) 24 July 1979
Place of birth Ermelo, South Africa
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
School of Excellence
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Jomo Cosmos 60 (26)
2002–2003 Brann 15 (2)
2003–2004 →F.C. Dallas 11 (2)
2004–2005 F.C. Dallas 22 (5)
2005 Jomo Cosmos 11 (3)
2005–2006 Viking 26 (8)
2006–2007 Hammarby 12 (0)
2007 →Sandefjord 7 (1)
2007–2008 Jomo Cosmos 11 (1)
2008–2009 Thanda Royal Zulu 28 (8)
2009–2011 Kaizer Chiefs 29 (6)
2012–2013 Manzini Sundowns 9 (11)
National team
2002–2005 South Africa 10 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Nhleko was a stocky built striker known for his pace and ability to hold up the ball and turn defenders not so much for his goal scoring exploits.

Club career

Nhleko began his professional career with South African club Jomo Cosmos, for whom he played from 1998 to 2002.

In 2002, Nhleko moved to Brann of Norway; although he appeared in 20 games, including two UEFA Cup matches, Nhleko had trouble adjusting to the climate and environment at Brann, and during the summer of 2003, was loaned to Major League Soccer's Dallas Burn for the rest of the season.

Nhleko performed well in 11 games with the Burn, showing strength and power possessed by few MLS forwards, registering two goals and four assists while teaming well with Eddie Johnson. The team bought Nhleko in the 2004 offseason for a nominal fee, and he played a larger role in the team's 2004 offense. Appearing either as a substitute for Jason Kreis or a starter with Eddie Johnson, Nhleko played in 23 games for Dallas in 2004, 13 of them starts, while scoring six goals and two assists. He left the team after the season, coming back to the Cosmos.

He arrived for his second spell at Jomo Cosmos in January 2005 but his stay was short lived as he moved back to Europe, where he was signed by Roy Hodgson.

In July 2005, Nhleko returned to Norway to play for Viking. He helped Viking by scoring to beat AS Monaco and Slavia Prague in the 2005 Uefa cup.

In August 2006 he was sold to Swedish club Hammarby IF. In August 2007 he was loaned out to Sandefjord until November 2007. He returned to Jomo Cosmos

His third stint at Jomo Cosmos proved to be fruitless. He failed to score a single league goal in a team who were struggling to find goals to fight off relegation. He did however score a cup goal in a 1–0 win over Golden Arrows in a Nedbank Cup Last 32 Round match.

After Jomo Cosmos relegation from the Premier Soccer League during the 2007/08 season, Nhleko signed for Thanda Royal Zulu on a Bosman free transfer.

International career

Nhleko has made ten appearances scoring one goal for the South African national team, playing in the 2004 African Nations Cup.

International Goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
12001-04-29Maputo, Mozambique Mozambique2–03–0COSAFA Cup
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