South African soccer player
Not to be confused with Simpiwe Tshabalala.
For other uses, see Tshabalala.
Lawrence Siphiwe Tshabalala (; born 25 September ) is a South African professional soccer player who most recently played as a midfielder for AmaZulu.
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 FIFA World Cup, at which he scored the first goal on 11 June 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.
Tshabalala was born on 25 September in Phiri as the first born of two children to parents Isaac Tshabalala (born ) and Hadifele Rebecca (née Makhubu) (–). 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]
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 Chiefs brought back their own product after Ea Lla Koto was relegated to the National First Division at the end of the /06 campaign.[6] At the time, Tshabalala was then sidelined for six months due to a serious knee injury.[7]
Tshabalala eventually made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Bidvest Wits on 31 August [8] Tshabalala made his Soweto derby debut on 24 November in a 2–2 draw.[9] Tshabalala played his first ever cup final on 1 December in the Telkom Knockout winning after a penalty shootout against Mamelodi Sundowns and played the full minutes.[10] He scored his first Chiefs goal on 12 December in a 4–2 win over Golden Arrows.[11]
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 R in prize-money, as well as a Nissan X-Trail.[12]
On 25 August , 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 appearances scoring 58 goals.[14]
On 28 August , Kaizer Chiefs announced that Tshabalala would be leaving for Turkish side Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor.[14][15]
Tshabalala returned to South Africa in October , 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 [17]
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 He was part of the South African squad at African Nations Cup, African Nations Cup, African Nations Cup, and the FIFA Confederations Cup. On 11 June , gaining his 50th cap for the nation of South Africa,[18] he scored the opening goal of the 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 , Tshabalala was called up to two of South Africa's World Cup qualifying matches against Senegal – for the first time since [21]
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]
In October , Tshabalala and Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas were the first two players to launch the new Nike CTR Maestri boots.[23]
Tshabalala's mother Rebecca Hadifele "Hadi" Makhubu (–) died on 5 December , 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 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 by former Miss SA, Bokang Montjane whom he had been dating since [28] The pair married in [29]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March | Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa | &#;Paraguay | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 October | Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea | &#;Equatorial Guinea | 1–0 | 1–0 | FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 28 March | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | &#;Norway | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 27 January | Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa | &#;Zimbabwe | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 31 March | Estadio Defensores del ChacoAsunción, Paraguay | &#;Paraguay | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 16 May | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | &#;Thailand | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 11 June | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | &#;Mexico | 1–0 | 1–1 | FIFA World Cup |
| 8 | 10 August | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | &#;Burkina Faso | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 15 June | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | &#;Gabon | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 10 | 22 December | Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa | &#;Malawi | 2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 8 June | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon | &#;Central African Republic | 2–0 | 3–0 | FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 17 August | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | &#;Burkina Faso | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
Free State Stars
Kaizer Chiefs
Individual