Siphiwe Tshabalala encounters enduring love for Shoes’ Moshoeu in Turkey
Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs legend Siphiwe Tshabalala recently experienced a heartwarming testament to the enduring legacy of the late John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu in Turkey.
During his time in Turkey, Tshabalala was struck by the immense respect and passion Turkish fans still hold for Moshoeu, who played for Gençlerbirliği in the late 90s.
The late ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu played some of his best football in Turkey, making a name for himself. He had stints with teams like Bursaspor, Genclerbirligi Ankara, Fenerbahce and Kocaelispor.
Moshoeu, who passed away on 21 April 2015, made 285 appearances in all competitions whilst in Turkey. In the process, the ex-Chiefs star scored 64 goals and grabbed 26 assists.
In addition, Moshoeu also won two titles: the 2000/01 Turkish Super Lig title with Fenerbahce FC and the 1996/97 Turkish Super Cup with Kocaelispor FC.
Tshabalala, on the other hand, played for Turkish side Erzurumspor FK, who now participates in the second-tier league. This was in the 2018/19 season after parting ways with Chiefs. His stay at the club only lasted one season. ‘Shabba’ managed to make 19 appearances in all competitions and registered an assist.
SIPHIWE TSHABALALA ON JOHN ‘SHOES’ MOSHOEU’S LEGACY IN TURKIYE
Tshabalala was happy with the enduring love and undying respect for John Moshoeu by Turkish football fans.
“When I arrived in Türkiye, I felt the presence of Shoes everywhere. The fans still spoke about him with so much passion and respect,” said Tshabalala.
“It was amazing to see how much he meant to them. When we played against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, I was amazed by the respect and admiration the Turkish fans had for Shoes.”
Tshabalala and Moshoeu’s former team, Amakhosi, recently returned from Turkey for their pre-season camp as they prepare for the 2024/25 PSL under new leadership.
The Glamour Boys appointed Tunisian mentor Nasreddine Nabi, who came with his own technical team. These are namely; Khalil Ben Youssef, Fernando Da Cruz, Ilyes Mzoughi and Safi Majdi.
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