Kaizer Chiefs legend Siphiwe Tshabalala had a wholesome moment when he met coach Nasreddine Nabi at the club’s base in Naturena.
Nabi revealed his admiration for the former Chiefs winger while also revealing that he is popular in his country Tunisia, perhaps due to his heroics at the 2010 World Cup.
“Happy birthday Shaba, the biggest player in Africa and the world,” Nabi roared when he met Tshabalala who celebrated his 40th birthday on September 25.
Why is Tshabalala so popular around the world?
“All Tunisians know him, we have fans in Tunisia and all of Africa, Tshabalala. You are welcome anytime in Naturena, please come,” Nabi added.
Tshabalala became a global phenomenon when he scored the first goal of the 2010 World Cup which was hosted in South Africa as Bafana Bafana went on to draw 1-1 with Mexico.
It was an extraordinary goal, a long-range stunner, that was nominated for the Puskas Award, a nomination for goal of the year by FIFA, and although South Africa exited at the group stages, Tshabalala was among the players who left a lasting impression.
The winger left a lasting impression at Kaizer Chiefs
The winger played for Kaizer Chiefs for 11 years from 2007-2018, winning two PSL titles, MTN8 and Nebank Cup as well as the defunct Telkom Knockout three times, having made 372 appearances while scoring 58 goals.
After his spell with Chiefs, Tshabalala had a one-year stint with Turkish side Buyuksehir Belediye Erzurumspor before returning home to complete his career at AmaZulu.
