San Diego Loyal 2021 top scorer Tumi Moshobane returns
Credit: SD Loyal
San Diego Loyal SC announced on Monday they had re-signed forward Tumi Moshobane ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season.
It’s a one-year contract with a club option for the 2023 season pending league and federation approval.
The 27-year-old South African had an outstanding 2021 regular season leading the team with ten goals. That included the game-winner in the 76th minute against the eventual champion Orange County SC back on July 14th at Torero Stadium after the team found themselves a goal down and a man down in the second half.
“Ever since I started in (USL League One) was to be the best player I can,” Moshobane said. “My first year here was kind of like an adjustment year. Now that I know where I am, I can comeback and improve and hopefully comeback as a better player.”
Six of his ten goals came as a substitute, including a pair of two-goal performances against Las Vegas Lights FC towards the end of the season. That would turn out to be crucial in helping the San Diego Loyal claim their first postseason appearance.
Season after season, @Tumi_Scara10 takes his craft to the next level. 2022 is going to be no different. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DeLKwLCfjV
— San Diego Loyal (@SanDiegoLoyal) December 27, 2021
A native of Soweto, Moshobane joined the professional ranks in 2019 with USL League One side Lansing Ignite FC where he finished tied for third place in the league’s inaugural season with 10 goals. He was named to the League One All-League First Team and joined the San Diego Loyal during the offseason. Since he joined the SD Loyal, he has made 44 regular-season appearances for the club.
“Thankfully, Tumi did what Tumi (Moshobane) does…we had a guy that could change things for us.”
San Diego Loyal head Coach Landon Donovan said about Moshobane after his team’s come from behind win against Las Vegas Lights back on September 25th, where he scored two goals.
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With the league going from a 32-game to a 34-game regular season starting in 2022, thanks to the addition of new clubs Detroit City FC (Eastern Conference) and Monterey Bay FC (Western Conference), Moshobane will have even more opportunities to score goals and perhaps help lead his team to the playoffs once again.
Hector Trujillo received his B.A. and M.A. from SDSU. Born in Mexicali and raised in Tijuana, Hector has lived in San Diego for over 25 years and covered soccer since 2003 (The Daily Aztec).