Not to be confused with Simpiwe Tshabalala.
For other uses, see Tshabalala (disambiguation).
Siphiwe Tshabalala
Full nameLawrence Siphiwe Tshabalala[1]
Birth date25 September 1984 (age 42)
Birth placePhiri, Soweto, South Africa
Height1.70 m
PositionWinger
Attacking midfielder
Youthyears 11991–1994
Youthclubs 1Phiri Arsenal
Youthyears 21994–1997
Youthclubs 2Phiri Movers
Youthyears 31997–2002
Youthclubs 3Kaizer Chiefs
Youthyears 42002–2003
Youthclubs 4Moroka Swallows
Years 12003–2004
Clubs 1Alexandra United
Caps 126
Goals 17
Years 22004–2007
Clubs 2Free State Stars
Caps 264
Goals 231
Years 32007–2018
Clubs 3Kaizer Chiefs
Caps 3292
Goals 348
Years 42018–2019
Clubs 4BB Erzurumspor
Caps 417
Goals 40
Years 52020–2021
Clubs 5AmaZulu
Caps 52
Goals 50
Totalcaps401
Totalgoals86
Nationalyears 12006–2017
Nationalteam 1South Africa
Nationalcaps 190
Nationalgoals 112
Club-update16:18, 13 August 2021 (UTC)
Nationalteam-update13:24, 21 June 2019 (UTC)

Lawrence Siphiwe Tshabalala (/sᵻˈpiːweɪˌtʃæbəˈlɑːlə/; born 25 September 1984) is a South African former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder.

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 opening goal of the tournament on 11 June 2010; the goal was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.

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 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 South Africa 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 brought great excitement to the fans of South Africa.[19] The game finished a 1–1 draw.[20] The goal was noted for its celebration, Tshabalala's choreographed dancing with his teammates,[21][22][23] and eventually made the shortlist for the Puskas Award, a nomination for goal of the year by FIFA.[24][25]

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.[26]

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".[27]

Endorsements

In October 2009, Tshabalala and Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas were the first two players to launch the new Nike CTR360 Maestri boots.[28]

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.[29] 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 Nangani's son.[30]

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.[31] Tshabalala's first child, Owami,[32] a boy, was born on 6 February 2015 by former Miss South Africa, Bokang Montjane whom he had been dating since 2012.[33] The pair married in 2016.[34]

Career statistics

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.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 March 2008Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville, South AfricaParaguay3–03–0Friendly
211 October 2008Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial GuineaEQG1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
328 March 2009Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South AfricaNorway2–12–1Friendly
427 January 2010Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South AfricaZimbabwe1–03–0Friendly
531 March 2010Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, ParaguayParaguay1–11–1Friendly
616 May 2010Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South AfricaThailand1–04–0Friendly
711 June 2010FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaMexico1–01–12010 FIFA World Cup
810 August 2011Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaBFA2–03–0Friendly
915 June 2012Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South AfricaGAB1–03–0Friendly
1022 December 2012Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South AfricaMWI2–03–1Friendly
118 June 2013Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, CameroonCTA2–03–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1217 August 2013FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaBFA1–02–0Friendly

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. ^ 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". Sky Sports. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  19. ^ Basson, Bertin (11 June 2021). "On This Day: Siphiwe Tshabalala's iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup goal - 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Africa". African Football. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  20. ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (11 June 2010). "South Africa 1–1 Mexico". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  21. ^ "Siphiwe Tshabalala | FIFA World Cup celebrations". FIFA. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  22. ^ "Africa rises for Tshabalala’s stunner (99) | 100 great World Cup moments". FIFA. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  23. ^ "Tshabalala’s dance for South Africa, Bebeto’s baby-cradling tribute and Grealish’s special moment for super-fan Finlay - the World Cup’s most iconic goal celebrations". goal.com. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  24. ^ "Tshabalala's World Cup goal on award list". TimesLIVE. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  25. ^ Kirkinis, Nikolaos (30 November 2017). "South Africa's unique relationship with the FIFA Puskás Award". These Football Times. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  26. ^ Gleeson, Mark (26 October 2017). "South Africa recall 2010 star Siphiwe Tshabalala". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Lawrence Siphiwe Tshabalala Profile - Goal.com". Goal. Archived 12 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs Star Siphiwe Tshabalala Launching Nike Boot". Goal.com
  29. ^ "Siphiwe Tshabalala grieves". DRUM
  30. ^ Sunday World. "Tshabalala spurns 'father' claim". Times LIVE
  31. ^ "Zalebs Mobi - Siphiwe versus Robin: Who's the real baby daddy?". Zalebs Mobi[dead link]
  32. ^ "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.
  33. ^ "TimesLIVE". www.timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  34. ^ "It's official! Siphiwe and Bokang are husband and wife". The Citizen. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala Dedicates Awards To His Mother". Goal. 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2017.