After a glittering career in the Absa Premiership, Tshabalala appeared to be winding down his career but a shock move to the Turkish Super Lig materialised at the age of 33.
With Amakhosi offering their blessing for 'Shabba' to fulfil his lifelong dream of playing in Europe, there was growing optimism around the 90-time capped Bafana Bafana winger.
But his time in South-Eastern Europe didn't quite go to script, with the technically gifted midfielder earning just five league starts and 12 substitute appearances as the newly-promoted outfit failed to retain their top-flight status.
While Shabba admits his warm arrival was overwhelming, it proved to be the highlight of a tumultuous 12 months before eventually returning home.
"I was happy when the opportunity presented itself to finally play abroad, I was well received upon my arrival with Erzurumspor," Tshabalala told the South African Football Journalist's Association.
"The supporters were chanting, signing and we took pictures, they even accompanied me to the training ground in a convoy. It was a happy moment for me and obviously being in an environment that is foreign to you, there will be challenges."
"From a training and organisation perspective, it was really challenging for me. Number one, I came from a team [Chiefs] that is well organised - training sessions are prepared well.
"That side was completely different, when you play on Sunday, during the week you just train and you don't have tactical sessions, no organisation from defence to attack. You just go there and fight to play.
"That was really difficult for me in that regard and me being a ball-player, obviously, I wanted the ball, I wanted the team to play. But it was difficult, it was more about your physique, you needed to be strong, crosses [are more important]."
"So I struggled, that's why in the beginning I didn't get to play. But it also came to a point where I was not happy that I'm not given an opportunity to do what I love, which is to play," Tshabalala continued.
"I was doing well at training, giving my best, I was the best player at training and then come game time, I'm on the bench, other players [teammates] are surprised, I'm surprised.
"This was a dream I was praying for all along and eventually, it came through, so it was blessings coming with burdens as well. I had to learn to live with that and continue to lift myself and stay positive in that difficult situation - hoping I will get a chance."
Having remained determined and upbeat despite his dream move turning sour, the former Free State Stars winger recalls events that made him realise that it was time to move on.
"Towards the end [of my stint] there was one incident where the new coach came in. We played Alanyaspor, he changed everything, I was on the bench, I didn't play," Shabba explained. "I worked hard at training and he came to me and said 'I really like your style of play, you're going to help us a lot and I think you are ready to play now'.
"I was in the team from Tuesday until the day of the game and then when the team was announced, I was on the bench. It came as shock, as the guy who took my place broke his hand, he couldn't play, they told him that he would be out for three weeks and suddenly this player is in the team, he didn't play well, we lost and I was disappointed.
"But I told myself if I play, it's okay, if I don't play, it's still okay and after that, he gave me a chance and I enjoyed myself. I had the most touches on the ball, the most forward passes, I intercepted passes and even made an assist but it was too late [to avoid relegation].
"After that, they called [my agent] Jazzman and they told him they want me to come back and build a team around him but we must renegotiate now because of [the relegation]. I was willing to go back and play, but when I arrived there, things were different, in fact, things were worse.
"The negotiations just went south, it was difficult that side, sometimes you will go three months without a salary - you can't leave your own comfort, work in a foreign country and still don't get paid and don't get to play. It built me mentally and I learned from the situation and you know I just decided to terminated and that's how I left."