Benedict Vilakazi (association football)

Benedict Vilakazi

Personal information
Full name	Benedict Bongani Vilakazi
Date of birth	(1982-08-09) August 9, 1982
Place of birth	Soweto, South Africa
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Botswana Meat Commission
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–	Botswana Meat Commission
International career‡
2002–2007	South Africa	31	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 19, 2012 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 19, 2011

Benedict Vilakazi (born August 9, 1982 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a South African football (soccer) player who plays as a midfielder for Botswana Meat Commission in Botswana. He has been noted as one of the smallest current professional international footballers (standing at a mere 1.57 m) but makes up for this with a strong physical presence.

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 July 27, 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 has only played a few games in the Danish league. Vilakazi returned to South Africa July 2008, signing a contract with Pretoria based side 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. While at the new club, Vilakazi had a fall out with Black Aces' management due to him missing several training sessions and further disciplinary problems. Consequently, Mamelodi Sundowns did not renew Vilakazi's contract after its expiry 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. In November 2013, he terminated his contract with Notwane after not receiving his salary and signing-on fee, and joined Botswana Meat Commission on a one-year contract.

External links

• Career stats at Danmarks Radio
• Vilakazi.html Benedict Vilakazi at National-Football-Teams.com