Discarded Bafana Bafana striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane will lead his Minnesota United side into the Major League Soccer playoffs on Monday when they begin their bid for the US title with a first-round tie against Real Salt Lake.
Minnesota, known as the Loons, are away in Utah for the first of the three-match series, with the second game on Saturday. The last match, if needed, will be back at Salt Lake City on November 8.
The winner will advance to the Western Conference semifinal against either LA Galaxy or Colorado Rapids.
The 24-year-old striker, who was dropped by South Africa coach Hugo Broos ahead of the Africa Cup Nations finals in the Ivory Coast at the start of the year, scored 11 regular season goals this year for Minnesota, finishing as the club’s top scorer.
Minnesota started the season in chaotic fashion as their coach Eric Ramsay arrived after the season had started from his job at Manchester United.
But Minnesota have grown slowly through the season and in their past eight matches lost and drawn only once.
STRONG ALL YEAR
Minnesota were strong away from home all year long, winning eight matches on the road but they have not won a post-season contest since the 2020 conference semifinals.
Major League Soccer has 29 clubs divided into two separate conferences and at the end of the regular season, the top nine teams in each conference advance to the playoffs, which are then played on a knockout basis in a best of three format.
Hlongwane is in his third season at the club, after moving from Maritzburg United, with his return in front of goal improved from the eight regular season goals he scored in 2023.
None of the other South Africans in MLS this season have got into the playoffs with their team.