How important is Lebo Moloto to Nashville SC‘s inaugural USL season? The club made its first ever trade to acquire the 27-year-old attacking midfielder from the Swope Park Rangers. Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith is hoping Moloto can be the heart of the team’s offense. Not only in scoring goals on his own, but also setting up his teammates for scoring chances.

Moloto was one of the top attacking midfielders last season in the USL, completing 84 percent of his passes and creating 52 scoring chances for the Swope Park Rangers. Moloto ranked tied for 14th in scoring chances and 28th for number of shots. He also scored 7 times last season, all from his right foot, and had 4 assists for the Rangers.

Smith has praised Moloto for his “dynamic combination of creativity ability and team first-mentality.”

Let’s hope Moloto can continue his strong form for Nashville SC in 2018.

Player profile

Full name: Matshidiso Lebogang Moloto

Date of birth: May 21, 1990

Place of birth: Polokwane, South Africa

Position: Midfielder

Twitter: @LeboMoloto22

Professional career stats

Years Team Appearances Goals 2010-13 Des Moines Menace 34 11 2014 United FC 2015-16 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 51 7 2017 Swope Park Rangers 29 7

Moloto’s professional career

Before joining the USL, Moloto made a name for himself in the Premier Development League playing for the Des Moines Menace. He was drafted in 2013 by the Seattle Sounders FC with the 54th pick, but did not sign with the MLS club.

Moloto’s made 85 appearances in the USL over the last three seasons making his USL debut in 2015 for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Over two season in Pittsburgh, he scored 7 goals in 51 games.

The midfielder has USL playoff experience, helping the Riverhounds reach the playoffs in 2015 and was an integral part of Swope Park Ranger’s 2017 Wester Conference Championship season. The Rangers lost 1-0 to Louisville City FC in the 2017 USL Cup Final. Moloto did his best to put the Rangers on the scoresheet creating three goal chances in the championship game.

Watch some of Moloto’s USL highlights