The name of the South Africa winger is no longer just a singalong chorus – it’s sure to be on the radar of several clubs after Friday’s opening game.
The opening day of World Cups has a habit of throwing up an absolute nobody who’s on his way to becoming a somebody.
Senegal is a case in point – eight years ago at the South Korea/Japan finals, the Lions of Teranga (don’t you just love the nicknames of all African sides?) caused one of the tournament’s most famous upsets with a 1-0 triumph over holders France in the first game.
Several of that team, which made it all the way to the last eight, hauled themselves into the spotlight with moves immediately after the tournament, including Aliou Cissé (Birmingham City), Salif Diao (Liverpool) and goalscorer Papa Bouba Diop (Racing Club de Lens and from there onto the Premier League, where he has been a regular for Fulham and Portsmouth for the past six years).
A similar journey could lie ahead for Siphiwe Tshabalala (main picture), the scorer of South Africa’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Mexico.
Tshabalala, whose name is a perfect refrain for all Peter Kay comedy covers, was impressive enough even apart from his thunderbolt strike.
There’s more to him than a hammer of a left foot – he’s quick and, on the evidence of the opening game of the tournament, can cross a decent ball.
Left wingers are always a coveted commodity, and he could well find himself doing a job in the middle to lower reaches of the Premier League next season.
Potential suitors: Wolves, Sunderland
The 25-year-old has been linked with Coventry City but the Sky Blues could well find themselves gazumped if they haven’t a deal signed and sealed.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has been fluttering eyelashes at Stephen Hunt ever since Hull’s relegation and while Hunt has been a proven performer for relegation fodder sides, Tshabalala could be a decent cheaper alternative.
Sunderland could also be an option. Manager Steve Bruce has failed to settle on a first-choice left winger, with Andy Reid, Steed Malbranque, Kieran Richardson and even Daryl Murphy deployed there at various stages over the past 12 months or so.
The Black Cats have a long history of taking punts on unproven foreigners (Paulo da Silva, Jean-Yves Mvoto, Milton Nunez), so Tshabalala could fit right in on Wearside, even if it is a long way from Soweto to Sunderland.
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