Biography
Who is Tokelo Rantie?
Early life and career
Tokelo Rantie was born in Parys, South Africa. He began his football development within various academies, above all the Stars of Africa Academy located in his home country. During these formative years, he received mentorship from Gabestar.
His professional path took him to Mozambique in 2010. He played for Clube Ferroviário da Beira and C.D. Maxaquene. In 2011, he moved to Sweden to join IFK Hässleholm. This transfer was arranged as a loan deal from his original academy to help South African players gain experience in the Swedish league.
Playing for Orlando Pirates and Malmö FF
Following a successful start where he scored ten goals in twelve matches, Rantie returned to South Africa. He played for the Orlando Pirates during the 2011 to 2012 season. He scored seven goals across 20 appearances for the team. The club attempted to negotiate a permanent transfer, but the financial terms were not met.
In August 2012, Rantie signed a 17-month loan deal with the Swedish club Malmö FF. He made an immediate impact, scoring a hat-trick during his competitive debut against Sandvikens IF in the Svenska Cupen. By April 2013, he signed a permanent four-year contract with the team. During his time there, he helped the club win the league title, scoring seven goals in 21 matches throughout that season.
Time with AFC Bournemouth
In August 2013, Malmö FF sold Tokelo Rantie to the English club AFC Bournemouth. The transfer was reported as a club record fee of 2.5 million pounds. He made his debut for the team on September 17, 2013, in a match against Barnsley. He scored his first goal for the English side in November 2013 during a draw against Burnley. Another well-known moment occurred in January 2014 when he scored the winning goal against Huddersfield Town.
Despite his efforts, Rantie found it difficult to consistently secure a spot in the starting eleven. He faced competition from other forwards at the club, including Lewis Grabban and Yann Kermorgant. He remained with the team until 2016.
Later career and international play
After leaving England, Rantie joined the Turkish club Gençlerbirliği in August 2016 on a permanent deal. Later in his career, he returned to South Africa to play for the Mamelodi Sundowns. He signed a three-year contract with them in September 2019, but his tenure ended in January 2020.
On the international stage, Rantie represented the South Africa national team. He made his debut on June 15, 2012, in a friendly match against Gabon, where he also scored his first international goal. In 2013, he was selected for the national squad to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa.
Birthday and age
Tokelo Rantie was born on September 8, 1990, which makes Tokelo 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Tokelo shares the date with 21 other famous people.
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