Former South Africa attacker Siphiwe Tshabalala has revealed he turned down Mamelodi Sundowns and a now defunct Bidvest Wits to realise his dream of playing for Kaizer Chiefs.
The now 40-year-old is remembered for the historic 2010 Fifa World Cup goal in favour of Bafana Bafana against Mexico when the competition was held in the continent for the first, and so far, the only time.
At the Glamour Boys, the winger won two league titles and Cup crowns, but his journey to the top was not easy as explained to Energy FM.
Downs scouted Tshabalala but dream was to play for 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,” the former attacker, who had a brief stint in Turkey, recalled.
“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 to 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.
“I chose Free State Stars. In my first season at Free State Stars and whenever we played, Sundowns representatives were there. They 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 who watch all our games were sent to scout you. It was a big thing for me.”
‘We came with a ridiculous amount to realise Chiefs' dream' – Tshabalala
Tshabalala insists it was an honour that Masandawana were scouting him, but he felt it was too soon for him.
Later on, with his representatives, came up with a plan to ensure he sealed a move to the Soweto giants.
“It made me feel grateful that a team of Sundowns’ caliber would send 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,” Tshabalala added.
“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 would 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 concluded.
