Jabu Mahlangu

Jabu Jeremiah Mahlangu (formerly Jabu Jeremiah Pule) (born 11 July 1980 in Daveyton, Gauteng) is a retired South African football (soccer) midfielder who last played for Supersport United.

Jabu Mahlangu
Personal information
Full name Jabu Jeremiah Mahlangu
Date of birth (1980-07-11) 11 July 1980
Place of birth Daveyton, South Africa
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder,
Central midfielder
Youth career
0000–1999 Kaizer Chiefs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2004 Kaizer Chiefs 99 (56)
2004–2005 SV Mattersburg 22 (2)
2005–2006 Supersport United 9 (0)
2006–2007 Orlando Pirates 18 (1)
2008 Östers IF 13 (5)
2009 Platinum Stars 12 (2)
2010 Östers IF 22 (1)
2012 FC Cape Town 0 (1)
2014 Supersport United 3 (0)
Total 185 (67)
International career‡
1999–2000 South Africa U-23 17 (1)
2000–2004 South Africa 20 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 September 2014
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2012

Club career

South Africa

Pule's first club was Kaizer Chiefs. The club refused to renew his contract when it ended in 2004 due to unprofessional conduct. He began playing for SV Mattersburg, but after eight months, he was asked to leave the club after crashing his car while under the influence of alcohol.

Twice sent to a rehabilitation clinic to overcome his problems with drinking and drugs, Pule was sacked by SuperSport United in late 2005 after missing several training sessions.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of Orlando Pirates, signed the former South Africa international, who had been kicked out of three previous clubs. In early 2006, Jabu Pule changed his surname to Mahlangu, the name of his deceased father.

Sweden

Pule left South Africa on 23 June 2008 for trials with Swedish clubs Helsingborgs IF, IF Limhamn Bunkeflo, and Östers IF, after training under the guidance of Farouk Khan at his academy in South Africa.

He completed 13 games for Östers IF in Division 1 Södra as the team came close to promotion into Superettan, with none of the problematic behaviour that had previously marred his career.

On 18 February 2010, Jabu signed a one-year contract with now Superettan newcomers Östers IF.[1]

International career

Jabu made 20 appearances for the South Africa national football team from 2000 to 2004,[2] and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and at the 2000 Olympic Games.[3] During the team's departure for the World Cup, South African president Thabo Mbeki, while shaking hands with the players to wish them good luck, said to him: "Jabu, you must behave yourself".

He was not selected for the South African squad in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, due to his behavior.

Career statistics

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 April 2000Setsoto Stadium, Maseru, Lesotho Lesotho0–2Win2002 FIFA World Cup qual.
2.24 August 2002Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa Swaziland4–1Win2002 COSAFA Cup
Correct as of 9 March 2017[4][5]

References
  1. Osterfotboll.com. "Jabu klar för Öster". Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  2. Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando; Tabeira, Martín (28 May 2009). "South Africa - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  3. "Jabu Pule Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  4. "South Africa - International Matches 1996-2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. "South Africa - International Matches 2001-2005". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
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