Mbulelo Mabizela
Encyclopedia
Mbulelo Mabizela is a South Africa
n footballer who plays as a midfielder
and defender
for Bidvest Wits and South Africa
.
Nicknamed "Old John" for apparently showing maturity beyond his years, as he is the youngest player to captain the South African national team at the age of twenty. Whilst he has all the ability required to be an outstanding player with good pace, strength, composure on the ball with both feet and the timing of tackles, Mabizela has had a career littered with troubles.
Mabizela was released by Tottenham Hotspur after only fourteen months with the club for disciplinary problems in 2004, this followed him having been stripped of the Bafana Bafana captaincy for going AWOL a few months earlier. Other troubles have included a six month ban for the use of a banned substance in 2006 and in December 2008 a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. In July 2009 Platinum Stars
made a decision to terminate his contract following further problems, but after a meeting with the team head coach Steve Komphela, Mabizela was allowed to continue his career with the club.
In August 2003 he joined Tottenham Hotspur after inspiring Pirates to a 2–1 win over Tottenham when the London club made a short tour of South Africa before the start of the 2003–2004 season.
In October 2003 he scored his only goal for the club (although it was an absolute belter) in the league match against Leicester City.
In October 2004, He had his contract cancelled by Tottenham Hotspur and was released by mutual agreement following several disciplinary infractions, including missing training sessions. He made only nine appearances in total for the club, scoring an absolute wonder goal.
After a short trial with another London club Fulham
he joined Vålerenga
in Norway
.
Mabizela spent a season at the Norwegian club but rarely featured in their championship winning season and was released in June 2006.
In August 2006 he signed for the South Africa
n team Mamelodi Sundowns
.
In December 2006, he received a six-month ban from the game for drug offences http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6182297.stm.
Following a number of disciplinary problems at Mamelodi Sundowns
which resulted in him being made available for transfer, Mabizela found a new home in early 2009 when he signed a three year contract with Platinum Stars
.
In June 2009 he was acquitted in the Pietermaritzburg magistrate court on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. At the time of his arrest, Mabizela was allegedly driving with a breath-alcohol level of 1,09 mg per 1 000 ml. The legal limit is 0,24 mg per 1 000 ml breath. Magistrate Dieter Schultz said Mabizela’s constitutional rights were not properly explained to him at his arrest and he was thus entitled to an acquittal.
In July 2009, Platinum Stars
made an about-turn on their decision to terminate the contract of Mabizela. It was reported that the club had finally run out of patience with ‘OJ’, with his agent confirming they had received a letter confirming the termination of his deal with the team. However, after a lengthy meeting with head coach Steve Komphela, Mabizela was back with the team and was allowed to continue playing for the club.
On 7 June 2010 Mabizela was voted the Platinum Stars
man of the match in the Stars 3–0 defeat to the England
international team in their final warm-up game before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Before the match he gave an interview in which he said he was looking forward to meeting Ledley King
and Jermain Defoe
again, two England players he played alongside at Tottenham Hotspur. Also he talked about how he is steadily overcoming his personal problems, "I had a good start at Spurs but it was too short and that's something I'll always look back on with regret", said Mabizela. "I've made a lot of mistakes in my personal life, things I'd rather not elaborate upon, and that was the reason I had to leave Spurs". "When I came back to South Africa I went for help, I got help and I'm still being helped. I wouldn't say I'm okay but I feel I'm going forward now. Platinum Stars have really helped me and at the moment I feel that I've really moved on. I am ready to move on with my career, even possibly back to Europe and I'd like to play for the Bafana Bafana international team again".
. At the age of 20 he became the youngest national team captain ever.
Call for International Return:-
A call for his return to international football was made in early December 2009, Platinum Stars coach Steve Komphela says he is happy with the progress made by Mabizela and reiterated his call for his inclusion in the Bafana Bafana set-up. "Mabizela has done well at Stars since joining them and seemed to be keeping away from the bad press of late", Komphela was reported as saying, He continued "Yes I do feel Mabizela should be back in the national team now, He has been doing well and we all know his capabilities". A number of past and present Bafana international players backed the call for OJ's return in late January 2010 but the Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was unmoved by any call for a return.
When South Africa's provisional 30-man World Cup squad was named on 12 May 2010, Mabizela was not in the squad therefore ending any hope of a deserved return to the Bafana Bafana camp.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Bidvest Wits and South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
.
Nicknamed "Old John" for apparently showing maturity beyond his years, as he is the youngest player to captain the South African national team at the age of twenty. Whilst he has all the ability required to be an outstanding player with good pace, strength, composure on the ball with both feet and the timing of tackles, Mabizela has had a career littered with troubles.
Mabizela was released by Tottenham Hotspur after only fourteen months with the club for disciplinary problems in 2004, this followed him having been stripped of the Bafana Bafana captaincy for going AWOL a few months earlier. Other troubles have included a six month ban for the use of a banned substance in 2006 and in December 2008 a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. In July 2009 Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars are a South African association football club based in Phokeng near Rustenburg, North West Province that plays in the Premier Soccer League...
made a decision to terminate his contract following further problems, but after a meeting with the team head coach Steve Komphela, Mabizela was allowed to continue his career with the club.
Club career
Mabizela began his senior club career with Orlando Pirates joining from Maritzburg City.In August 2003 he joined Tottenham Hotspur after inspiring Pirates to a 2–1 win over Tottenham when the London club made a short tour of South Africa before the start of the 2003–2004 season.
In October 2003 he scored his only goal for the club (although it was an absolute belter) in the league match against Leicester City.
In October 2004, He had his contract cancelled by Tottenham Hotspur and was released by mutual agreement following several disciplinary infractions, including missing training sessions. He made only nine appearances in total for the club, scoring an absolute wonder goal.
After a short trial with another London club Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
he joined Vålerenga
Vålerenga I.F. Fotball
Vålerenga Fotball is a Norwegian association football club from Oslo and a part of the multi-sport club Vålerengens IF. Founded in 1913, the club is named after the neighbourhood of Vålerenga...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Mabizela spent a season at the Norwegian club but rarely featured in their championship winning season and was released in June 2006.
In August 2006 he signed for the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n team Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns are a South African football club that plays in the Premier Soccer League.Since 2003, Sundowns are owned by rand billionaire Patrice Motsepe....
.
In December 2006, he received a six-month ban from the game for drug offences http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6182297.stm.
Following a number of disciplinary problems at Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns are a South African football club that plays in the Premier Soccer League.Since 2003, Sundowns are owned by rand billionaire Patrice Motsepe....
which resulted in him being made available for transfer, Mabizela found a new home in early 2009 when he signed a three year contract with Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars are a South African association football club based in Phokeng near Rustenburg, North West Province that plays in the Premier Soccer League...
.
In June 2009 he was acquitted in the Pietermaritzburg magistrate court on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. At the time of his arrest, Mabizela was allegedly driving with a breath-alcohol level of 1,09 mg per 1 000 ml. The legal limit is 0,24 mg per 1 000 ml breath. Magistrate Dieter Schultz said Mabizela’s constitutional rights were not properly explained to him at his arrest and he was thus entitled to an acquittal.
In July 2009, Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars are a South African association football club based in Phokeng near Rustenburg, North West Province that plays in the Premier Soccer League...
made an about-turn on their decision to terminate the contract of Mabizela. It was reported that the club had finally run out of patience with ‘OJ’, with his agent confirming they had received a letter confirming the termination of his deal with the team. However, after a lengthy meeting with head coach Steve Komphela, Mabizela was back with the team and was allowed to continue playing for the club.
On 7 June 2010 Mabizela was voted the Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars
Platinum Stars are a South African association football club based in Phokeng near Rustenburg, North West Province that plays in the Premier Soccer League...
man of the match in the Stars 3–0 defeat to the England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
international team in their final warm-up game before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Before the match he gave an interview in which he said he was looking forward to meeting Ledley King
Ledley King
Ledley Brenton King is an English footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He is the longest serving player at the club and captained Spurs since 2005. He is currently contracted to Tottenham until 2012...
and Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe
Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
again, two England players he played alongside at Tottenham Hotspur. Also he talked about how he is steadily overcoming his personal problems, "I had a good start at Spurs but it was too short and that's something I'll always look back on with regret", said Mabizela. "I've made a lot of mistakes in my personal life, things I'd rather not elaborate upon, and that was the reason I had to leave Spurs". "When I came back to South Africa I went for help, I got help and I'm still being helped. I wouldn't say I'm okay but I feel I'm going forward now. Platinum Stars have really helped me and at the moment I feel that I've really moved on. I am ready to move on with my career, even possibly back to Europe and I'd like to play for the Bafana Bafana international team again".
International career
As of October 2006 he has played 44 international matches and scored 2 goals for the South Africa national teamSouth Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
. At the age of 20 he became the youngest national team captain ever.
Call for International Return:-
A call for his return to international football was made in early December 2009, Platinum Stars coach Steve Komphela says he is happy with the progress made by Mabizela and reiterated his call for his inclusion in the Bafana Bafana set-up. "Mabizela has done well at Stars since joining them and seemed to be keeping away from the bad press of late", Komphela was reported as saying, He continued "Yes I do feel Mabizela should be back in the national team now, He has been doing well and we all know his capabilities". A number of past and present Bafana international players backed the call for OJ's return in late January 2010 but the Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was unmoved by any call for a return.
When South Africa's provisional 30-man World Cup squad was named on 12 May 2010, Mabizela was not in the squad therefore ending any hope of a deserved return to the Bafana Bafana camp.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-06-05 | Bloemfontein Bloemfontein Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and... , South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... |
1–0 | 2–1 | World Cup qualifier FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body... |
|
| 2 | 2004-06-05 | Bloemfontein Bloemfontein Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and... , South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... |
2–0 | 2–1 | World Cup qualifier FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body... |