Tshabalala is a big name is Turkey – Ertugral
Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral has revealed that a number of clubs in Turkey tried to lure Siphiwe Tshabalala away from Kaizer Chiefs over the years.
Siphiwe Tshabalala of Kaizer Chiefs (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Chiefs Tuesday confirmed that Tshabalala has signed for Turkish top-flight club Erzurumspor.
“He has a big name in Turkey‚ we have often spoken about him and people know him very well. Hopefully he can fulfil those expectations‚” Ertugral told TimesLIVE.
“We wanted him when I was in Sivasspor in 2009 and we really put a lot of money on the table. I have had a wish in the last few years that he would go play in Turkey.”
“He looks after himself‚ so for him age is only a number‚” Ertugral said. “Lebo was a little unlucky‚ but it is important for South Africans‚ given the history of recent years‚ to go there and play in that league.”
Ertugral also cautioned that Tshabalala may have a challenge to get acquainted to a new culture in Turkey.
“They are a team on the Asian side in what I call the far east of Turkey‚” Ertugral explained.
“He [Tshabalala] will have to adapt to the Eastern way of thinking. For him‚ I wish it was a team from‚ say‚ Istanbul‚ or those areas [in the west of the country].”
