Bafana Bafana star faces uncertain future

Siphiwe Tshabalala is currently at Championship side Crystal Palace keeping himself fit. It had initially been reported that he is having trials there with a possible move away from Kaizer Chiefs. Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman admits that any move to sign Siphiwe Tshabalala may have to wait until the end of the season.

“He’ll be with us for a couple of weeks but it’s not really a trial as such – his friend KG is over here and he’s just keeping himself fit. It’s an opportunity for him with South Africa not getting to the African championships to keep his training up. As we speak right now it’s probably in the summer that we will revisit that one in terms of signing.” This is contradicting to the newspaper reports and agent claiming the transfer is very possible. Now we hear Kaizer Chiefs will resume talks with Itumeleng Khune and Siphiwe Tshabalala when Bobby Motaung returns from holiday. - from Kickoff.com


Personally I do not think a player like Tshabalala needs to go for trials to any team. The player is a regular at Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana. He played a leading role for the national side at the 2010 World Cup. A move overseas has been long overdue.
 
Tshabalala is used mostly on the left-wing but sometimes plays in a more central role. He is a hard working player. He makes good runs and can cross the ball well. The other good thing about him is that he scores a few goals for every team he plays for and has a powerful left foot (2010 FIFA World cup opening goal). He is disciplined on and off the field. You only find his name on the back pages of newspapers which is where footballers must be. I have never seen him get a single red card since 2006. He helps out the left back when the team is defending. The right foot though is just good for standing with him. Adapting to life at Crystal Palace should be made easier for him because another Bafana Bafana midfielder, Kagisho Dikgacoi is already there. He is used to playing in front of big crowds of around 60,000-90,000 all blowing vuvuzelas.
 
Tshabalala only has 6 months left on his current contract with Kaizer Chiefs. The Chiefs management would rather seal a deal now in this transfer window than wait and have him move for free in June. It would be difficult for them to put a very high transfer fee for him as time is running out and they would still want to make money out of the move. I do not think Palace will sign him now. They will wait and try to get him for free in June. Mamelodi Sundowns are also following the happenings closely as they want to give him an offer he cannot refuse. If he does not move overseas I think he will stay at Naturena.
 
He will be a big loss to Kaizer Chiefs as they are currently fighting to win the league title back from their rivals Orlando Pirates. Any Kaizer Chiefs fan will tell you about his contribution to the side. The only medal missing for him is a League winner’s medal. It would be great if he could leave having won the league with his childhood team. If there is one player who deserves a move to England that player is Siphiwe Tshabalala. He has earned it.