The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder is quite a distance ahead of his teammates in caps, with the man second to him being Siboniso Gaxa, further down on 54.
Shabba – famous around the globe for scoring the 2010 World Cup opening goal – made his Bafana debut on January 14, 2006 against Egypt, ahead of the disastrous 2006 Nations Cup campaign.
When he made his Bafana debut Tshabalala was still at Free State Stars and has gone on to score 10 goals in the senior national team.
Of the 73 games that the 28-year-old has played for Bafana he has played from start to finish in 23 of those matches.
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With South Africa enjoying the luxury of hosting the 2009 Confederations Cup, 2010 World Cup and 2013 Nations Cup, 46 of the Shabba's caps have come from friendly matches.
Tshabalala won his first eight caps as a Free State Stars player, with the other 65 coming during his time at Amakhosi.
Tshabalala has played at the 2006 and 2008 Nations Cups, 2009 Confederations Cup, 2010 World Cup and is now in line to add the 2013 Nations Cup, but the only piece of silverware he has to his name is the 2007 Cosafa Castle Cup.
Katlego Mphela and Lerato Chabangu won their first caps a year earlier than the Chiefs midfielder, playing their first Bafana games on the same day: February 26, 2005, against Seychelles.
Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa is the only player in the 23-man Afcon squad yet to play for the senior national team, while Itumeleng Khune and Kagisho Dikgacoi are the only other players besides Gaxa and Tshabalala to have reached 50 caps.
Both Khune and Dikgacoi won their 50th caps last night.
Your comments on this story...
Hence he dons Gold, but what's important now is that he's Bafana playa!
what miracles do we expect from him with his right-leg at the age of 29.
Article: Shabba is the most failed player in this team
yeye is better than manyisa/jali combined
What does his experience offer Bafana,as he has become more useless to the National team
Shabba, got two left feet...failed trials twice...why didn't his experience help him den
The Zebra faithful can't read the sarcastic tone in this article.....
Yho Moyo is rubbing it in.... but he has to be braver & call-spade-a-spade...
If I can comment here they will follow me and say I can learn lot from their sons who are doing grand R or 1, but fact remains you can't keep a good man down. Shabba rocks.
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@CJB are you refering to this one champ?
Wena Bugs Killer, CJB had to dumb it down for your likes to understand the sarcasm in this article. Are you aware that the article clearly states that since Shabba came in SA has never qualified for anything but you busy saying Shabba rocks. Hai no Chiefs fans are beyond slow. I just don't know anymore
chiefs tendency is killing ma boy, shabba stil has a tast to complete by kicking a ball with his right-leg let alone being a headless chicken with his left-leg
Bugs Killerposted: 11:14 am | Report
If I can comment here they will follow me and say I can learn lot from their sons who are doing grand R or 1, but fact remains you can't keep a good man down. Shabba rocks.
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@CJB are you refering to this one champ?
Wena Bugs Killer, CJB had to dumb it down for your likes to understand the sarcasm in this article. Are you aware that the article clearly states that since Shabba came in SA has never qualified for anything but you busy saying Shabba rocks. Hai no Chiefs fans are beyond slow. I just don't know anymore
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Exactly My Champ..... idiots.... Hehehehehehehehehe.......