Maritzburg United have confirmed that Bongokuhle Hlongwane has completed a move to MLS team Minnesota United.
Maritzburg confirmed the news on Wednesday evening. Hlongwane has signed a three year deal with the US team.
iDiski Times reported previously that the American club had shown interest in the young Maritzburg United striker, who had also been linked to a number of clubs in the DStv Premiership.
The highly-rated 21-year-old has spent his entire career at Maritzburg United, having broken into the first team during the 2018/2019 season. During that campaign he helped Maritzburg retain their top flight status when he starred in the promotion-relegation playoffs.
Hlongwane, who can play as a striker and as a winger, earned a place in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad in 2021, and featured in seven games for the national team last year, scoring twice, including the winner against Ghana in the 1-0 victory in the World Cup Qualifiers. He had previously made his debut in 2019 in a CHAN qualifier against Lesotho.
This season he has featured 16 times for Maritzburg, scoring twice.
“It’s been a pleasure to witness Bongokuhle’s growth both as a player and as a young man since he was identified and recruited into the Club’s Youth structures 4 years ago,” Maritzburg United Chairman Farook Kadodia said in a statement.
“He has flourished into a world class Striker and it’s credit to Bongokuhle that he has made the most of his opportunities and also to our coaches for helping him on his path.
“Such has been the quality and consistency of his performances that it was not a surprise that the club had received a number of offers both locally and internationally for him, however the player has always had his heart set on playing abroad and this opportunity presents him with an exciting new challenge to test himself in a highly competitive environment.
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“Bongokhule’s family also believed that this opportunity will assist their son’s ambition of competing and gaining experience both as a footballer and youngster in new surroundings. With the MLS kicking off in February, it was not possible to delay the move to the end of this season as we as a club would have preferred.”
“As much as it will sadden us to see him go, especially at this crucial stage of the current DSTV Premiership season, we are proud to see him embark on a new chapter in his career and we thank him for his efforts with Maritzburg and wish him all the best for his career at club and international level.”
