Toni Nhleko

Nkosinathi Nhleko
Personal information
Full name	Nkosinathi Nhleko
Date of birth	24 July 1979 (age 45)
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
1998–2002	Jomo Cosmos
2002–2003	Brann
2003–2004	→F.C. Dallas
2004–2005	F.C. Dallas
2005	Jomo Cosmos
2005–2006	Viking
2006–2007	Hammarby IF
2007	→Sandefjord
2007–2008	Jomo Cosmos
2008–2009	Thanda Royal Zulu
2009–2011	Kaizer Chiefs
2012–2013	Antaliay FC
International career
2002–2005	South Africa
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nkosinathi Nhleko (born 24 July 1979, in Ermelo) is a retired South African soccer player who last played as a striker for Kaizer Chiefs and Retired at Antaliay Football Club (Turkey Football League)

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

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	2001-04-29	Maputo, Mozambique	Mozambique	2–0	3–0	COSAFA Cup

References

External links

Toni Nhleko at National-Football-Teams.com