Quick Facts
Biography
Kamohelo Mokotjo (born 11 March 1991) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for FC Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Early career
As a 12-year-old he captained South Africa's under-12 national team to victory in the 2003 Danone Nations Cup in France. Mokotjo revealed that in order to be a footballer, he moved out his family home when he was twelve.
Club career
Feyenoord
Mokotjo played one season for SuperSport United in his home country and made one appearance, coming on as a substitute for Shane Poggenpoel, in a 1-0 loss against Santos on 20 December 2008. After making one appearance for SuperSport United, Mokotjo joined Feyenoord in the summer of 2009 and immediately went on loan to Excelsior.
It wasn't until on 16 October 2009 for Mokotjo to make his Excelsior debut, coming on as a substitute in the 45th minutes, in a 3-0 win over PEC Zwolle. In a match against De Graafschap on 20 November 2009, Mokotjo set up two goals, in a 2-1 win for Excelsior. Mokotjo scored his first Excelsior goal on 26 February 2010, in a 2-1 win over De Graafschap. At the end of the 2009-10 season, making thirty appearance and scoring once in all competition, Mokotjo helped the club promoted to Eredivisie for next season.
After returning to Feyenoord in the summer of 2010, Mokotjo returned to the first team and was given number fifteen shirt. It wasn't until on 22 September 2010 when he made his Feyenoord debut against Roda JC in the second round of the third round of KNVB Cup and the club went on to lose in the penalty shootout. Four days later on 26 September 2010, Mokotjo made his league debut for the club, where he made his first start, in a 3-0 loss against NEC. Despite suffering from a minor injury, Mokotjo finished the 2010-11 season, making 15 appearance in all competition.
The 2011-12 season saw Mokotjo spent on the substitute bench at the start of the season and was sparingly used by Manager Ronald Koeman, prompting suggestion that he could leave the club for first team football. Despite this, Mokotjo was determined to stay at the club and fight for his first team place. In a rivalry match against Ajax on 29 January 2012, Mokotjo set up one of the four goals, in a 4-2 win. His performance at the club saw him signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2014. Despite suffering an injury as the 2011-12 season progressed, Mokotjo finished the season, making twenty-five appearance in all competition.
In the 2012-13 season, Mokotjo struggled to remain his first team place and was left out of the squad by Manager Koeman, as well as, his own injury concern. But the club's technical director Martin van Geel stated that Mokotjo needed time to develop at the club, though he could be sold if he doesn't develop well. However, in November, Mokotjo was among three players expected to be sold in the January transfer window, but it never happened and he stayed at the club throughout the season. Despite this, Mokotjo made one appearance. coming on as a late substitute, this season against ADO Den Haag on 19 December 2012.
PEC Zwolle
After three seasons in which he could not fully impress, Mokotjo signed with PEC Zwolle in the summer of 2013, signing a three-year contract with the club.
Mokotjo made his PEC Zwolle debut, in the opening game of the season, making his first start for the club, in a 2-1 win against his former club, Feyernood and performed well that saw him being named Team of the Week by Algemeen Dagblad. Mokotjo scored his first PEC Zwolle goal in the next game, in a 3-0 win over Hercales, followed up scoring in the next game with a 5-1 win over NEC, as well as, setting up one of the five goals. Despite suffering from injuries, Mokotjo helped the club beat Ajax 5–1 in the KNVB Cup and finished the season, making thirty-three appearance and scoring two times in all competitions. For his performance, Mokotjo was nominated for the Most Valuable Player of the Eredivisie.
His performance at PEC Zwolle attracted interests from Ajax While in the negotiation, Mokotjo played his last PEC Zwolle match in the Johan Cruyff Shield and set up a goal for Stef Nijland to score the only goal in the game, giving PEC its first ever Supercup win and himself his second major trophy at the club. Upon leaving the club, the club's technical director Gerard Nijkamp stated that Mokotjo will be missed by the club for his good impressive time he had made.
Twente
After making his last appearance for PEC Zwolle, Mokotjo joined Twente for an undisclosed fee, believed to a record transfer, signing a four-year contract on 8 August 2014 and was an immediate replacement for Quincy Promes, who left for Spartak Moscow. Upon joining the club, Mokotko said he will always grateful to PEC Zwolle and that the move suited him.
Shortly after joining the club, Mokotjo made his Twente debut in the opening game of the season, coming on as a substitute for Robbert Schilder in the second half, in a 1-1 draw against Cambuur. Mokotjo scored in the next match on 16 August 2014, in a 1-1 draw against ADO Den Haag. Mokotjo then provided four assists in four matches between on 21 September 2014 and 5 October 2014 against Heracles, Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar. Mokotjo almost played every matches in the league but missed one match, due to injury.
Ahead of the 2015-16 season, Mokotjo was in a negotiation with a move to England, joining Championship side Brentford in hopes of joining his teammate, Andreas Bjelland. However, the move was broken down after Mokotjo rejected the move and stayed at the club. Mokotjo continued to established himself in the first team at the club and on 27 September 2015, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2-1 win over Roda JC. Due to the club's financial problem that affected this season, Mokotjo hinted his departure at Twente after commenting that he doesn't intend to stay at the club until his contract ran out. Mokotjo appeared thirty-two times in all competition and scoring once, having missed three league matches, due to personal reason.
In the 2016-17 season, Mokotjo was appointed as a new captain following the departure of Felipe Gutiérrez and captained his first match in the opening game of the season, in a 1-0 loss against Excelsior. Mokotjo then scored his first goal and set up one of the four goals, in a 4-1 win over ADO Den Haag on 17 September 2016. In the next game, Mokotjo missed out to the selection over his fitness concern.
International career
Mokotjo made his international debut in a friendly against Mozambique on 11 September 2012. In November 2011, Mokotjo was called up by South Africa U23, but didn't go in order to concentrate on his club career, as it was revealed that the South Africa Football Federation didn't get permission from Feyernood for him.
After a year absent of international football, Mokotjo was called up by the national team in August following his club's performance. His return to the national side hope that he can established himself.
Career Statistics
Honours
Club
PEC Zwolle
- KNVB Cup (1): 2013–14
- Johan Cruijff Schaal (1): 2014