Siphiwe Tshabalala recalls how he dodged Sundowns and Wits to join Chiefs
Former Kaizer Chiefs star Siphiwe Tshabalala has recalled how he dodged offers from Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits to join Amakhosi.
Tshabalala played as an attacking midfielder, spending a significant part of his career at Kaizer Chiefs.
The revered former Bafana Bafana star also had brief stint in Turkey. His goal against Mexico in the 2010 FIFA World Cup became his historic moment.
Tshabalala’s decorated career includes two league titles, cup triumphs, and a good reputation for his eye for spectacular goals. However, his rise was marked by bold decisions, including dodging Mamelodi Sundowns, who spent months tracking him while at Free State Stars.
The 40-year-old also smartly worked his way out of a Bidvest Wits deal after his release from Free State Stars.
EX-CHIEFS STAR TSHABALALA REVEALS HIS BOLD STEPS TO CHIEFS
In an interview with Energy FM, Tshabalala revealed how he made bold decisions as he was eyeing a move to Kaizer Chiefs.
“I was specific in my dreams that I want to play for Kaizer Chiefs and I want to contribute and be the best for the Gold and Black. And I remember at some point, I was shattered when I was in the youth development Under-19,” he said.
“I only trained for one week under coach Ryder Mofokeng, and because the training schedule was clashing with school, I would always get into trouble the next day at school with the principal for absconding study period and going to training.
“So it came a point that I had to decide whether its Chiefs or school. So, I decided to focus on school. I played for [Moroka] Swallows after I was invited for a trial with the first team under Gavin Hunt.
“So I trained for a week, but it just never worked and I left. I continued to play school football and amatuer football then in 2004, that is when I joined Alexandra United for three months.
“We got relegated, but I had a great second half because I only joined for three months. And I got offers including Swallows, then Manning Rangers, then first division teams.
“And I chose Free State Stars. On my first season at Free State Stars and whenever we played, Sundowns representatives were there. There were there whether in Cape Town, Limpopo or Durban.
“I didn’t know what they were doing only until on the last day when we won the Mvela league [Motsepe Foundation Championship]. That is when my former boss said that those people that watch all our games were sent to scout you. It was a big thing to me.
HOW HE DODGED MAMELODI SUNDOWNS AND BIDVEST WITS
Tshabalala says he was honoured after Sundowns expressed interest in him, but he felt unready for the move.
“It made me feel grateful that a team of Sundowns’ calibre would sent people to come and monitor my progress. And then we [Free State Stars] got relegated. Once again, offers were coming, but I took a decision to go down with the team.
“I felt that by then I was not ready, and then I played half of the season before Free State Stars released me in January. And they released me because they had agreed terms with Wits. Their plan was that I’m going sign with Bidvest Wits.
“But I didn’t like that because I didn’t want to play for Wits, with respect to Wits. I felt it was time for me to play for Kaizer Chiefs. But we went to Wits and had a meeting.
“So we came up with a ridiculous amount so that the deal doesn’t happen, and fortunately, it did not happen. Eventually I got a call that I must go and discuss terms with Chiefs, so that’s how I signed for them,” Tshabalala added.
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