Siphiwe Tshabalala

Lawrence Siphiwe Dambuza Tshabalala (/sɪˈpiːweɪ ˌtʃæbəˈlɑːlə/; born 25 September 1984) is a South African professional football player who most recently played as a midfielder for AmaZulu.

Siphiwe Tshabalala
Tshabalala playing for South Africa at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Lawrence Siphiwe Dambuza Tshabalala[1]
Date of birth (1984-09-25) 25 September 1984
Place of birth Soweto, South Africa
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1991–1994 Phiri Arsenal
1994–1997 Phiri Movers
1997–2002 Kaizer Chiefs
2002–2003 Moroka Swallows
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Alexandra United 26 (7)
2004–2007 Free State Stars 64 (31)
2007–2018 Kaizer Chiefs 292 (48)
2018–2019 BB Erzurumspor 17 (0)
2020–2021 AmaZulu 2 (0)
International career‡
2006–2017 South Africa 90 (12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:18, 13 August 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:24, 21 June 2019 (UTC)

He is considered to be one of the most well-known and decorated South African soccer players of his generation. He was the first player to make his international debut while still playing in the National First Division. At 90 caps, he is the second most capped player of the South African national team and played at three African Cup of Nations editions and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, at which he scored the first goal on 11 June 2010 which was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award. Tshabalala, who was recently released by Amazulu FC, is a winger but has played other midfielder roles.

Early life

Tshabalala was born on 25 September 1984 in Phiri as the first born of two children to parents Isaac Tshabalala (born 1964) and Hadifele Rebecca (née Makhubu) (1965–2010). His younger sister is named Mpumi. He grew up and lived in a face brick house until he was 19,[2] that was owned by his grandparents. He lived there with his cousins and sister. His father worked as a taxi driver.[3] He attended secondary school at Seanamarena Secondary School in Phiri, Soweto.[4] Tshabalala aspired to be a chartered accountant as a young boy.[5]

Club career

Kaizer Chiefs

Tshabalala played at the Kaizer Chiefs academy but only broke through to the senior team after spells with Alexandra United and Free State Stars. In January 2007 Chiefs brought back their own product after Ea Lla Koto was relegated to the National First Division at the end of the 2005/06 campaign.[6] At the time, Tshabalala was then sidelined for six months due to a serious knee injury.[7]

2007–08 season

Tshabalala eventually made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Bidvest Wits on 31 August 2007.[8] Tshabalala made his Soweto derby debut on 24 November 2007 in a 2–2 draw.[9] Tshabalala played his first ever cup final on 1 December 2007 in the Telkom Knockout winning after a penalty shootout against Mamelodi Sundowns and played the full 120 minutes.[10] He scored his first Chiefs goal on 12 December 2007 in a 4–2 win over Golden Arrows.[11]

2008–09 season

Tshabalala continued to consistently deliver great goals, winning him the Player and Players’ Player of the Year at the Kaizer Chiefs Awards Ceremony. He also picked up the Website Player of the Year, Goal of the Season and Readers’ Choice awards. All-and-all Tshabalala left the awards with R170 000 in prize-money, as well as a Nissan X-Trail.[12]

2015–16 season

On 25 August 2015, Tshabalala gained attention for a volleyed goal from well outside the area which was nominated as one of the goals of the South African season. The goal, which came in a 4–0 win over Free State Stars F.C. coincidentally took place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the same venue where Tshabalala had scored a similar goal against Mexico in the world cup five years earlier.[13]

He made a total of 372 appearances scoring 58 goals.[14]

Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor

On 28 August 2019, Kaizer Chiefs announced that Tshabalala would be leaving for Turkish side Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor.[14][15]

AmaZulu

Tshabalala returned to South Africa in October 2020, joining South African Premier Division club AmaZulu F.C.[16] He signed a one-year contract with the option of a second year.[17] He was released in August 2021.[17]

International career

Tshabalala was one of the first players to be called up to the national team while still playing in the National First Division. Tshabalala made his national team debut in a friendly against Egypt on 14 January 2006. He was part of the South African squad at 2006 African Nations Cup, 2008 African Nations Cup, 2013 African Nations Cup, and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. On 11 June 2010, gaining his 50th cap for the nation of South Africa,[18] he scored the opening goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Mexico in the 55th minute, which erupted the full Soccer City (FNB Stadium) into wild celebrations.[19] The game finished a 1–1 draw.[20] That goal eventually made the shortlist for the Puskas Award, a nomination for goal of the year by FIFA.

In October 2017, Tshabalala was called up to two of South Africa's World Cup qualifying matches against Senegal – for the first time since 2014.[21]

Style of play

Goal.com described Tshabalala as "a tricky winger with pace and can deliver fantastic crosses. His left boot can pack a powerful shot and he is a great option for set pieces as he has the ability to bend the ball".[22]

Endorsements

In October 2009, Tshabalala and Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas were the first two players to launch the new Nike CTR360 Maestri boots.[23]

Personal life

Tshabalala's mother Rebecca Hadifele "Hadi" Makhubu (1965–2010) died on 5 December 2010, after sustaining a head injury after falling at a bridal shower which she was attending with her husband Isaac. She was buried at the Avalon Cemetery on 11 December 2010 in Soweto. The funeral was attended by notable figures such as Pitso Mosimane, Jimmy Tau, Morgan Gould as well as a performance by Joyous Celebration.[24] A Limpopo man named Samson Nangani claimed that Tshabalala was his child and lost contact with his mother while she was still pregnant. Tshabalala denied being his son.[25]

Tshabalala was involved in a love scandal with Zanele Khanye Skhosana and former Atlético Madrid academy player Robin Ngalande, where one of them allegedly impregnated her.[26] Tshabalala's first child, Owami,[27] a boy, was born on 6 February 2015 by former Miss SA, Bokang Montjane whom he had been dating since 2012.[28] The pair married in 2016.[29]

International goals
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tshabalala goal.
List of international goals scored by Siphiwe Tshabalala
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
126 March 2008Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa Paraguay3–03–0Friendly
211 October 2008Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
328 March 2009Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa Norway2–12–1Friendly
427 January 2010Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Zimbabwe1–03–0Friendly
531 March 2010Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay Paraguay1–11–1Friendly
616 May 2010Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Thailand1–04–0Friendly
711 June 2010FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Mexico1–01–12010 FIFA World Cup
810 August 2011Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Burkina Faso2–03–0Friendly
915 June 2012Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Gabon1–03–0Friendly
1022 December 2012Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Malawi2–03–1Friendly
118 June 2013Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon Central African Republic2–03–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1217 August 2013FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Burkina Faso1–02–0Friendly

Honours

Free State Stars

Kaizer Chiefs

Individual

References
  1. "S. Tshabalala". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. "Red Bulletin- the House That Built Siphiwe". Red Bull. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  3. SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (4 July 2010). "Football Hero Siphiwe Tshabalala: 'We Brought Joy to South Africans'". SPIEGEL ONLINE.
  4. "Shabba: Education is key". siphiwetshabalala.co.za.
  5. "Youth Village » 10 Things You Didn't Know about Siphiwe Tshabalala". youthvillage.co.za. 16 September 2013.
  6. "Siphiwe Tshabalala". kickoff.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  7. "BBC Sport - World Cup 2010 - siphiwe_tshabalala". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. "Siphiwe Tshabalala hints at Kaizer Chiefs contract renewal - News - Kick Off". kickoff.com.
  9. www.realnet.co.uk. "Record Soweto Derby appearances for SIphiwe Tshabalala". Kick Off. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  10. "Khune wins Chiefs the Cup Final". kickoff.com.
  11. "Chiefs back to winning ways". kickoff.com.
  12. "Tshabalala cleans up at Chiefs". kickoff.com.
  13. Alberto Moreno (25 August 2015). "Tshabalala scores a wonder goal". Fox Soccer. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  14. "Siphiwe Tshabalala finally gets his overseas move". ESPN FC. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  15. "Shabba leaves for Turkey". Kaizer Chiefs. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  16. "AmaZulu unveil Siphiwe Tshabalala and ex-Orlando Pirates stars". kickoff.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  17. Hadebe, Sazi (13 August 2021). "'It's football, my friend': Benni on why AmaZulu released Siphiwe Tshabalala". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  18. "Shabba ranks opening draw". Skysports.com. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  19. "On This Day In 2010: Siphiwe Tshabalala Shocked The World With Goal Against Mexico". www.sportbible.com. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  20. Stevenson, Jonathan (11 June 2010). "South Africa 1–1 Mexico". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  21. Gleeson, Mark (26 October 2017). "South Africa recall 2010 star Siphiwe Tshabalala". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  22. "Lawrence Siphiwe Tshabalala Profile - Goal.com". Goal. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  23. "Kaizer Chiefs Star Siphiwe Tshabalala Launching Nike Boot". Goal.com.
  24. "Siphiwe Tshabalala grieves". DRUM.
  25. Sunday World. "Tshabalala spurns 'father' claim". Times LIVE.
  26. "Zalebs Mobi - Siphiwe versus Robin: Who's the real baby daddy?". Zalebs Mobi.
  27. "Youth Village » Bokang Shares A Beautiful Video Of Baby Owami & Siphiwe Tshabalala For Fathers Day. Check It Out Here…". youthvillage.co.za. 21 June 2015.
  28. "TimesLIVE". www.timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  29. "It's official! Siphiwe and Bokang are husband and wife". The Citizen. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  30. "Kaizer Chiefs Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala Dedicates Awards To His Mother". Goal. 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
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