Eric Mathoho

Eric "Tower" Mathoho, born on 1 May 1990 in Thohoyandou, is a South African football player known for his strong defending skills. Standing tall and powerful, he earned the nickname "Tower" for his impressive presence on the field.

Mathoho played as a central defender, a position where he protected his team's goal by stopping opponents from scoring. His main team was Kaizer Chiefs, one of the most popular clubs in South Africa.

Throughout his career, Mathoho also represented his country, playing for the national team of South Africa. His dedication and skill made him a respected figure in South African football.

Early life

Eric Mathoho was born in a small place called Tshiombo near Thohoyandou. He loved playing soccer even when he was very young. He would make his own balls using onion bags and play games in the maize fields during harvest time. Sometimes, he would hurt his feet while playing, but he kept enjoying the game.

Club career

Mathoho started his career with Bloemfontein Celtic after joining from a team in Limpopo in 2009. He played his first match in February 2010 and scored his first goal the next year. Though he had chances to join teams in Netherlands like Maccabi Haifa and FC Twente, the deals did not happen because of rules about paying foreign players.

In 2012, Mathoho joined Kaizer Chiefs. He made his first appearance for them in August that year. He scored his first goal for the team in April 2013. In his first season, he helped the team win the league and a cup tournament. He also played in an important African competition called the CAF Champions League and scored a goal on his birthday in March 2014. The following season, his team had a very strong start, going many games without losing and winning another tournament without letting any goals in.

International career

Eric Mathoho first played for South Africa on May 14, 2011, in a friendly match against Tanzania. He played every minute of South Africa's qualifying matches in 2014, helping the team earn a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2008, under coach Ephraim Mashaba.

Style of play

Eric Mathoho was known for being a strong defender who could also help start attacks. He was good at jumping to get the ball during set plays and was a threat to the other team.

International career

International goals

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	13 October 2015	Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras	Honduras	1–0	1–1	Friendly

Honours

Eric Mathoho played for Kaizer Chiefs, and together they won several important trophies. Some of these include the Premier Soccer League in 2013 and 2015, the Nedbank Cup in 2013, the Carling Black Label Cup in 2013, and the MTN 8 in 2014. These victories show how much he helped his team succeed.