Craig Martin
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-08-04) 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
 Orlando Pirates City
Number 30
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–2014 Kensington FC
2014–2016 Hellenic
2016–2017 Glendene United
2017–2023 Cape Town City 85 (9)
International career‡
2021– South Africa 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:57, 12 April 2021 (UTC)
‡ 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 PSL side Orlando Pirates. He previously played for Cape Town City FC, before being transferred to the Bucs in 2023.

Club career

Born in Cape Town,[2] Martin grew up in the Kensington suburb of Cape Town.[3] He attended Kensington High School and played for Kensington FC.[3] He later spent two seasons with Hellenic and one with Glendene United before signing for Cape Town City in summer 2017.[4][5][3] 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.[2][6] He made his first start the following week in a 2–0 win away to Ajax Cape Town.[2][7] He scored the first goal of his professional career on 21 November 2017 in a 1–1 draw with Baroka.[8] 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.[9] He scored 3 goals in 22 league appearances in his first season at the club.[2]

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.[10] In January 2021, it was confirmed that Martin had contracted COVID-19.[11] Later that month, he signed a three-year contract extension with the club, ending speculation of a possible transfer to Orlando Pirates.[12]

International career

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.[13]

He made his debut on 10 June 2021 in a friendly against Uganda.[14]

Style of play

Martin can play as a right-back or as a right midfielder.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Craig Martin". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "South Africa - C. Martin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Benni McCarthy backs 'unknown' Craig Martin". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Hendricks, Joshua (27 February 2021). "Craig Martin interview: The journey to Cape Town City". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "Everything has chanced for centurion for Craig Martin after winning first Cape Town City cap". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Absa Premiership match report Cape Town City v Polokwane City 22 September 2017". Kick Off. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Absa Premiership Report: Ajax Cape Town v Cape Town City 30 September 2017". Soccer Laduma. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Baroka, Cape Town City share spoils". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Cape Town City winger Craig Martin had an unforgettable derby experience". Kick Off. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Craig Martin valued at 2.5-million euros, R45-millon amid Orlando Pirates interest". Kick Off. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Cape Town City confirm Thabo Nodada, Mpho Makola and Craig Martin ruled out through Covid-19 infections". Kick Off. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Craig Martin: Reported Orlando Pirates target extends Cape Town City contract | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  13. ↑ Gillion, Baden. "CT City's Craig Martin among three players to receive maiden Bafana call-up". Sport. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "South Africa v Uganda game report". ESPN. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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