Thibang Sindile Theophilus Phete (born 4 April 1994), known as Cafu Phete, is a South African professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Icelandic club Vestri and the South African national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thibang Sindile Theophilus Pete | ||
| Date of birth | 4 April 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Kimberley, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Vestri | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Milano United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2014 | Milano United | ||
| 2014–2015 | Tourizense | 15 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Vitória SC | 11 | (0) |
| 2015–2019 | Vitória SC B | 67 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | Famalicão | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | → B-SAD (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | B-SAD | 53 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Al Bataeh | 11 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Chaves | 9 | (0) |
| 2025– | Vestri | 20 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2020– | South Africa | 4 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 25 August 2023 | |||
Club career
editEarly career
editBorn in Kimberley, South Africa, Phete began his career in the National First Division with Cape Town-based club Milano United, having previously graduated from the Stars of Africa Academy.[1] In 2014, he joined Portuguese Campeonato Nacional de Seniores side Tourizense with whom he spent one season.[2]
Vitória S.C.
editOn 13 August 2015, Primeira Liga side Vitória S.C. announced the signing of Phete from Tourizense.[3] He made his debut for the club on 28 November in a 2–1 win over Boavista during which he was booked in the 29th minute before being substituted at half-time for Otávio.[4] He made 12 appearances over the course of the season as Vitória ended in ninth spot on the Primeira Liga table.[5] At the end of the season Phete was joined at the club by fellow countrymen Bongani Zungu and Haashim Domingo who had signed for the upcoming season.[6] He failed to appear for the senior side in the following two seasons, however, after he was moved to the club's reserve squad, Vitória S.C. B.
Famalicão
editB-SAD
editIn January 2020, Famalicão sent Phete on loan to Primeira Liga side B-SAD until the end of the 2019–20 season. On 1 August 2020, B-SAD announced the permanent signing of Phete on a two-year contract.[8]
Al Bataeh
editIn July 2022, after his contract with B-SAD had expired, Phete signed for UAE Pro League side Al Bataeh.[9]
Chaves
editVestri
editIn 2025, Phete joined Vestri. On 22 August 2025, he won the Icelandic Cup with Vestri.[11]
International career
editCareer statistics
edit- As of match played 22 January 2023[13]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tourizense | 2014–15 | Campeonato Nacional de Seniores | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| Vitória SC | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Vitória SC B | 2015–16 | LigaPro | 12 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | LigaPro | 8 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18 | LigaPro | 21 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 1 | |||
| 2018–19 | LigaPro | 26 | 3 | — | — | 26 | 3 | |||
| Total | 67 | 4 | — | — | 67 | 4 | ||||
| Famalicão | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| B-SAD (loan) | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| B-SAD | 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 67 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 73 | 1 | ||
| Al Bataeh | 2022–23 | UAE Pro League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Chaves | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career Total | 172 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 181 | 5 | ||
- ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal
- ↑ Includes Taça da Liga and UAE League Cup
References
edit- ↑ "Ex-Milano midfielder Thibang Phete progressing at Portugal's Vitória Guimarães". Kick Off. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ↑ Ferreira, Bruno (13 August 2015) (13 August 2015). "V. Guimarães: Thibang Phete contratado ao Tourizense" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Thibang Phete Reforca Vimaranenses" (in Portuguese). Record. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ↑ "Thibang Phete makes his starting debut for Portugal's Vitoria Guimaraes". Kick Off. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ↑ "South African Players Abroad". Soccer Laduma. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ↑ "SA players abroad: Patosi, Jali, Phete, Claasen, Serero". Kick Off. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ↑ Kohler, Lorenz (15 October 2019). "Thibang Phete: Cafu targets first-team spot with Primeira Liga leaders Famalicão". Kick Off. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ↑ "Cafú Phete assina em definitivo pelo Belenenses SAD" [Cafú Phete signs permanently for Belenenses SAD] (in European Portuguese). O Jogo. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ↑ "Cafu Phete, ex-B SAD, ruma aos Emirados Árabes Unidos" [Cafu Phete, former B SAD, heads to UAE] (in European Portuguese). O Jogo. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ↑ "Cafú Phete é valente transmontano" [Cafú Phete is transmontano valiant]. gdchaves.pt (in European Portuguese). 14 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ↑ Andri Már Eggertsson; Ágúst Orri Arnarson (22 August 2025). "Uppgjörið: Valur - Vestri 0-1 - Vestri bikarmeistari í fyrsta sinn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ Hadebe, Sazi (9 October 2020). "Thabo Nodada catches the eye among Ntseki's Bafana debutants". The Sowetan. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ↑ Thibang Phete at Soccerway
External links
edit- Thibang Phete at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Thibang Phete at Soccerway
