Shabalala with a T Siphiwe happy to be part of the rebirth of AmaZulu
Let’s get this one fact out of the way pronto: Siphiwe is still a Mshengu (his clan name) — the one whose surname starts with a T before it’s concluded with the words shabalala — so he is still Tshabalala.
The confusion ensued early this week when the scorer of the 2010 Fifa World Cup opening goal was given a No 36 shirt with Shabalala instead of Tshabalala written on the back when he was being introduced as one of the more than 10 new players at AmaZulu FC.
Failing to contain his amusement on the question of his surname, Tshabalala said it was just an honest mistake on the part of the Durban club but he’s glad it’s been rectified.
“I’m still a Shabalala with a T,” a giggling Tshabalala confirms as we begin to talk about his new journey with Usuthu, where he’s signed a two-year contract.
A lot to tackle
If anything has changed for the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana player is that he’s got a lot to tackle each day, hence his limited time when he has engagements with the media.
Tshabalala’s time is so precious that he couldn’t help but keep asking “kanti siqeda nini we bhuti (howlong arewe still to go before we finish, my brother?)”.
Having dealt with a few busy people like him, I figured I may steal a few more of his critical minutes if I dabbled on a few topics he never stops talking about when he’s enticed on them, no matter how rushed he is. Those titbits concern mostly a few of his business ventures and off course his famous strike in 2010.
“It’s an opportunity for me to touch lives,” says Tshabalala of his 2010 goal against Mexico. “It’s been 10 years after scoring that goal but the vibe, the energy that I receive, it’s still the same. Even yesterday (Wednesday) people were happy talking about that goal.”
Tshabalala stresses that if it was not the relationship which goes beyond football that he has with Usuthu’s new owner Sandile Zungu, he may not have joined the club.
“It’s great to have him as the club’s president and also as my mentor in my own businesses. The president is the one who was instrumental in me coming here. I’m really, really happy to be part of the rebirth of AmaZulu,” said Tshabalala, who is only 17 days older than Usuthu coach Ayanda Dlamini.
With his stature having grown by leaps and bounds after his famous goal in 2010, Tshabalala acknowledges the responsibility he has in revamping the image of a club that last won a cup eight years before SA hosted the first World Cup on African soil.
“It’s been 18 years but with a right attitude, right commitment, it can be achieved [Zungu’s ambition to finish in the top four]. The new players will add value to the team and will make this dream of fighting for everything on offer real. So it’s a project that focuses on bringing change — a positive one.”
While it may not take long for other new players to be drafted into AmaZulu’s starting side, Tshabalala agrees that, having spent 14 months without a club after leaving the Turkish outfit Erzurumspor, he’s got a lot to do to convince Dlamini of his sharpness.
“Respect is key, discipline is key,” said Tshabalala of the relationship he wants to forge with AmaZulu’s young coach.
“I want to earn my place through what I’m capable of doing now, not on my reputation. We’re all equal nowand everybody deserves a fair chance.
“There are no guarantees and I can’t wake up and expect to be in the starting XI. I want to earn it by pushing myself at training.”