INTERNATIONAL
South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala joins Turkish side Erzurumspor
After 11 years at Kaizer Chiefs the talented midfielder finally gets his overseas move.
Veteran South Africa midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala has joined newly promoted Turkish top-flight side BB Erzurumspor.
This will be the first overseas move for the 33-year-old who has spent the last 11 years at South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Kaizer Chiefs.
During his long spell with the Soweto giants, Tshabalala made 372 appearances and scored 58 goals.
"I want to thank the supporters for their Love & Peace,’ he told Kaizer Chiefs’ official website "It has been a great ride for almost 12 years. I have enjoyed every minute of it."
Tshabalala has 90 caps for South Africa’s national team. Perhaps, he is best remembered for scoring the first goal of the 2010 World Cup on home soil in the 1-1 draw with Mexico.
The dreamed move
Over the years, the midfielder has been tipped to move overseas a number of times, however, a transfer was never accomplished.
"I always wanted to play overseas, in particular in Europe, and I have never been shy to talk about that," he said. "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."
He is believed to have signed a two-year deal with the Erzurumspor, a relatively new club founded in 2005.