CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati have signed South Africa international midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo using Targeted Allocation Money. Mokotjo, 29, will occupy an international roster slot and be added to FC Cincinnati’s 2020 roster upon the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.
The midfielder made 26 appearances, including 25 starts, with English Championship side Brentford scoring one goal and adding two assists across all competitions last season.
“We are pleased to add a player in Kamo who will be a strong fit for what we are looking to do at FC Cincinnati,” FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp said. “He is an intelligent player that will be an asset for our club on both sides of the pitch. We look forward to welcoming Kamo to Cincinnati and having him integrate within our locker room.”
The midfielder has made 338 career first-team appearances, including 285 starts, scoring 12 goals and adding 36 assists in 12 professional seasons in England, the Netherlands and South Africa. Mokotjo joins FC Cincinnati after playing for SuperSport United (2008-09), Feyenoord (2009-13), Excelsior (2009-10), PEC Zwolle (2013-14), FC Twente (2014-17) and Brentford FC (2017-20).
“I felt like now is the right moment for a new challenge at a club that has big potential and is willing to challenge itself,” Mokotjo said. “I think in a way this is a perfect match. I’m honored and ready to relish this opportunity and challenge.”
Mokotjo’s professional career began in 2008 when he was 16 years old. He was to promoted South African club SuperSport United’s first team after spending more than five years in the club’s academy. The midfielder went on to make just one substitute appearance with the club during the 2008-09 Premier Soccer League season.
Following that season, Mokotjo spent a three-month trial at Eredivisie club Feyenoord, where he ultimately earned a contract to join the Dutch side.
In his first season as a Feyenoord player, he joined Eerste Divisie side S.B.V. Excelsior on a one-year loan. In his lone season at Excelsior, Mokotjo made 30 appearances, including 28 starts, scoring one goal and adding five assists across all competitions. The midfielder was a key part of Excelsior’s promotion-earning campaign and following the end of the season, he was named the Excelsior Young Player of the Year.
Following the 2009-10 campaign, Mokotjo spent the next seven seasons playing in the Dutch Eredivisie with Feyenoord, PEC Zwolle and FC Twente.
Mokotjo went on to make 38 appearances, including 21 starts, adding three assists across all competitions in three seasons with Feyenoord. Following the 2012-13 season, the midfielder made a move to fellow Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, where he had a breakthrough season.
He played an instrumental role in PEC Zwolle’s Dutch Cup-winning 2013-14 campaign. The midfielder made 33 appearances, all starts, scoring two goals and adding six assists. He started all six of PEC Zwolle’s matches in the Dutch Cup, recording an assist in each of the final three matches, as the club captured its first-ever KNVB Cup with a 5-1 victory against Ajax. Just over three months later, he provided the game-winning assist in PEC Zwolle’s 1-0 victory against Ajax to capture the 2014 Johan Cruyff Shield.
Mokotjo joined Eredivisie side FC Twente prior to the start of the 2014-15 season. In three seasons with the Tukkers, Mokotjo made 105 appearances, including 103 starts, scoring three goals and adding 15 assists across all competitions. A regular matchday selection, Mokotjo featured in all but six matches across all competitions in his three seasons at FC Twente.
Following eight professional seasons in the Netherlands, Mokotjo joined English Championship side Brentford FC prior to the start of the 2017-18 season. The midfielder made 102 appearances, including 71 starts, scoring six goals and adding seven assists across all competitions with The Bees. This past season, Mokotjo and Brentford finished third in the Championship table, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League following a 2-1 loss to Fulham in the Championship play-offs.
Mokotjo represents South Africa internationally and has earned 13 caps to date. He made his senior international debut in an international friendly against Spain on Nov. 19, 2013. Mokotjo made five appearances during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and has also featured in FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
FC Cincinnati will return to Nippert Stadium for the first time in 2020 on Friday, Aug. 21, when the team hosts D.C. United for the continuation of the MLS regular season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on WSTR 64, carried on the radio on WDJO (99.5 FM, 107.9 FM and 1480 AM), streamed regionally on fccincinnati.com/stream, out of market on ESPN+, while an audio stream will be available at TuneIn (WDJO) and fccincinnati.com.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
Information about seating options at the club’s state-of-the-art West End Stadium – which will open in Spring 2021 – is now available at westendstadium.com. The priority deadline for premium seating deposits has passed, and deposits for traditional reserved seating will open next month. For more information about 2021 season memberships, visit westendstadium.com or the stadium’s social properties on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @WestEndStadium, or by calling the team’s sales and service staff at 513-977-5425.
TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati signed midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo using Targeted Allocation Money on Aug. 20, 2020.
#15 KAMOHELO MOKOTJO
Pronunciation: KAHM-oh-HEH-loh “KAHM-oh” moh-KOHT-joh
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-7
Weight: 160
Birthdate: March 11, 1991
Birthplace: Odendaalsrus, South Africa
Hometown: Odendaalsrus, South Africa
Last Club: Brentford FC (ENG)
Nationality: South Africa
MLS Roster Status: International
How Acquired: Via free transfer on Aug. 20, 2020.
