Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 4 August 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) [1] | ||
Position(s) | Right-back, right midfielder [1] | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Chippa United | ||
Number | 30 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
–2014 | Kensington FC | ||
2014–2016 | Hellenic | ||
2016–2017 | Glendene United | ||
2017–2023 | Cape Town City | 128 | (13) |
2023 | Orlando Pirates | 5 | (0) |
2023– | Chippa United | 16 | (5) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | South Africa | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2021 |
Craig Martin (born 4 August 1993) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a right-back or right midfielder for Chippa United. [2]
Born in Cape Town, [3] Martin grew up in the Kensington suburb of Cape Town. [4] He attended Kensington High School and played for Kensington FC. [4] He later spent two seasons with Hellenic and one with Glendene United before signing for Cape Town City in summer 2017. [5] [6] [4] He made his debut for the club on 22 September 2017 as a 68th-minute substitute for Ayanda Patosi in a 1–0 win over Polokwane City. [3] [7] He made his first start the following week in a 2–0 win away to Ajax Cape Town. [3] [8] He scored the first goal of his professional career on 21 November 2017 in a 1–1 draw with Baroka. [9] On 20 January 2018, he scored the only goal of the game as Cape Town City beat rivals Ajax Cape Town for the second time that season. [10] He scored 3 goals in 22 league appearances in his first season at the club. [3]
In late 2020, it was reported that Orlando Pirates were interested in signing Martin, leading Cape Town City owner John Comitis to state that he valued the player at R 45,000,000. [11] In January 2021, it was confirmed that Martin had contracted COVID-19. [12] Later that month, he signed a three-year contract extension with the club, ending speculation of a possible transfer to Orlando Pirates. [13]
Martin was called up to the South Africa national soccer team for the first time in March 2021 for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Ghana and Sudan. [14]
He made his debut on 10 June 2021 in a friendly against Uganda. [15]
Martin can play as a right-back or as a right midfielder. [1]