PLAYER PROFILE: LINDO MFEKA
By: PXI STAFF (@ProspectXI)
Position: Midfielder
Primary Role: Wide Midfielder
Height: 5’8””
Weight: 155
DOB: 3-30-1994
Nationality: South Africa
Preferred Footed: Right
Club: South Florida (NCAA – D1)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Played with the South Africa U-17 national team.
CURRENT STATUS:
Junior at South Florida (NCAA –D1), available for the 2016 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation Adidas player.
PLAYING CAREER:
2013: South Florida (NCAA – D1) – 21 games, 21 starts, 5 goals, 4 assists, 30 shots on target, 3 yellows
2014: South Florida (NCAA – D1) – 20 games, 19 starts, 4 goals, 4 assists, 12 shots on target, 5 yellows
ANALYSIS:
The South African wide midfielder/winger is known for speed and dribbling ability. Lindo played for the South African U-17 national team and also participated in the Junior Aces program, an elite academy in South Africa to develop players. Mfeka came to US and played club soccer with Javanon 94, winning the Kentucky State Championship three times and was the leading goal scorer in the U-18 US Soccer National League in 2012. This made him one of the top recruits going into college.
Lindo has played two seasons with South Florida in NCAA Division 1 soccer. As a Freshman, he scored five goals, provided four assists and showed a great willingness to shoot producing 30 shots on target. While as a sophomore, he scored four goals, provided four assists and played deeper in a more midfield role. Mfeka also showed a willingness to back track and chase players down, but poor tackling lead to a couple of yellow cards.
Expectations for Mfeka are high and currently he could be compared to Philadelphia Union midfielder Eric Ayuk, but like Ayuk, the question remains if Lindo can translate his great athletic effort into becoming a quality player. If Mfeka was to have a breakout season in terms of increasing his goals and assists totals, expect him to be given a GA contract at the end of the season. However, a repeat season like 2014 could be back at South Florida for his senior season.
HIGHLIGHTS:
+ South Africa U-17 international
+ Played three seasons with Javanon 94 in US Soccer National League
+ Was US Soccer National League U-18 leading goal scorer
+ Played two seasons with South Florida in NCAA Division 1
+ Available in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft as a potential GA