Shabba leaving Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that veteran forward Siphiwe Tshabalala is leaving the club after more than a decade at Naturena.
Tshabalala is off to Europe, joining Turkish Super Lig side BB Erzurumspor.
His move to Europe ends a fantastic career at Amakhosi – where he played 372 games and scored 58 goals for the Glamour Boys.
He has also played the most Soweto Derbies of any player involved from either Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, having featured in 31 of the clashes between the teams.
Shabba has won the ABSA Premiership title twice (2012/2013, 2014/2015), the Telkom Knockout three times (2007, 2010, 2011), the MTN8 twice (2008, 2014) and the Nedbank Cup once in 2013.
Reflecting on his career, Shabba told KaizerChiefs.com that 2009 was his most memorable season at the club.
“On a personal level I would say the 2008/2009 season when we won the MTN8. I won all the Kaizer Chiefs awards at the end of the season, including the Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Top Goalscorer of the Season, the Amakhosi Readers’ Choice of the Season and the Amakhosi Online Player of the Season.”
With a new chapter of his career about to begin, Shabba says that he has always wanted to have a stint outside of South Africa.
“I always wanted to play overseas, in particular in Europe and I have never been shy to talk about that. It should have happened a long time ago, but I think that it’s God’s time. I am grateful that God is giving me this huge opportunity to showcase my talent in Europe.”
Shabba’s personal accolades speak to the legacy that he will be leaving both at Kaizer Chiefs and in South Africa. He was named Chiefs Player of the season three times.
He was also crowned 2010 SAFA Footballer of the Year and has 89 Bafana Bafana caps to his name. Who can forget the goal he scored against Mexico in the curtain raiser of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.