| Intro | Association footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 13 December 1987, Tembisa |
| Age: | 32 years |
| Star sign | Sagittarius |
Thabo “Festival” Matlaba (born 13 December 1987 in Tembisa, Gauteng) is a South African football (soccer) defender for Premier Soccer League club Orlando Pirates. He is known for his long range shots with both his feet. Although he plays mostly as a left back, Matlaba is naturally right-footed.
International career
He made his debut for South Africa on 14 May 2011 versus Tanzania in an international friendly.
Matlaba scored his first international goal with a 40-yard (37 m) drive in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic on 23 March 2013.
International goals
- Scores and results list South Africa’s goal tally first.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 23 March 2013 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | Central African Republic | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |