Brighton Mhlongo
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 January 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Soweto, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Balfour Park | |||
| Orlando Pirates | |||
| Garankuwa United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | FC AK | ||
| 2011–2017 | Orlando Pirates | 55 | (0) |
| 2017–2020 | Chippa United | 8 | (0) |
| 2020– | Bidvest Wits F.C. | 1 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | TTM | 2 | (0) |
| 2021 | Marumo Gallants | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2016 | South Africa | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Brighton Mhlongo (born 12 January 1991) is a South African footballer who played as a goalkeeper for several Premier Soccer League clubs.
He played several years for the Orlando Pirates, but the club eventually wanted to offload the player.[1] He joined Bidvest Wits, but scarcely played.[2] He followed over to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila after its owner bought Bidvest Wits' licence, doing the same when TTM sold to Marumo Gallants in 2021.
In 2021, he was hit point-blank in the eye by a football shot, rendering him partially blind. Controversially, Marumo Gallants promptly terminiated his contract.[3]
International career
Mhlongo was called up to the senior South Africa squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia in June 2016.[4] He made his national team debut on the friendly match against Ghana on 11 October 2016.[5]
Personal life
Mhlongo married on Good Friday 2016. The day before, he was caught speeding.[6]
He later admitted to having struggled with alcoholism since the mid-2010s.[7][8]
References
- ^ "Orlando Pirates could offer Mhlongo in swap deal for SuperSport keeper Williams". Goal.com. Yahoo!. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Brighton Mhlongo set for rare run-out for Wits against Sundowns". The Herald. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ Khoza, Neville (11 November 2021). "Mhlongo and Gallants on collision course". The Sowetan. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Mashaba includes Mhlongo, Mncwango and Thopola in Bafana Bafana squad". goal.com. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ Brighton Mhlongo at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo apologises for speeding on wedding weekend". Kickoff. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Star goalie Brighton Mhlongo fights booze". The Sowetan. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ Solms, Leonard (13 May 2021). "Brighton Mhlongo's new path will be lit by past experience with alcohol and loss". ESPN. Retrieved 18 February 2026.