Emile Witbooi
South African soccer player (born 2007)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emile Amoreece Witbooi (born 28 August 2008) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder and as a winger for Cape Town City.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Emile Amoreece Witbooi | ||
| Date of birth | 28 August 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Northern Cape Kimberley, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cape Town City | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2020-2021 | School of Excellence | ||
| 2024–2025 | Cape Town City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Cape Town City | 4 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2024–2023 | South Africa U15 | 7 | (2) |
| 2024–2025 | South Africa U17 | 10 | (4) |
| 2024– | South Africa U20 | 8 | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:30, 8 April 2025 (UTC) | |||
Emile Witbooi was added to the yearly The guardian list of the best 2008 talents, with him being the only South African on the list.[2]
Club career
A youth product of the Tshwaragano All Stars and the School of Excellence, Witbooi joined the academy of Cape Town City on 20 January 2024.[3] In November, he went on a month-long trial with the Premier League club Chelsea.[4] He made his senior and professional debut with Cape Town City as a substitute in a 2–0 South African Premier Division loss to on 2 March 2025. At 16 years, six months and five days , he was the youngest ever debutant for his club, and the 9th youngest in the history of the league.[5][6]
Youth international career
Witbooi was part of the South Africa U20s that won the 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup.[7] Later that year, he played for the South Africa U17s at the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Championship.[8] In March 2025 he again was called up for the South Africa U17s for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[9]
Personal life
Witbooi was born in Kimberley, Northern Cape to his mother Avril Witbooi,[10] a civil servant, and Surprise Ralani, his biological father, who was a professional soccer player.[11] On 17 February 2025, Emile Witbooi signed to Roc Nation.[12]
Honours
- South Africa U20