Thuso Phala (born 27 May 1986 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a retired South African football midfielder. He is the inventor of Thuso Phala dance moves that are becoming popular to South African soccer fans and dancers at large, the moves he makes after he scores a goal.
Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (1986-05-27) 27 May 1986 (age 36) | ||
Place of birth | Soweto, South Africa | ||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Position(s) | Right winger | ||
Youth career | |||
Wits University | |||
Silver Stars | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2007 | Silver Stars | 17 | (0) |
2007–2009 | Kaizer Chiefs | 32 | (1) |
2009–2010 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 5 | (0) |
2010–2013 | Platinum Stars | 81 | (12) |
2013–2019 | SuperSport United | 141 | (20) |
2019–2020 | Black Leopards | 12 | (0) |
National team | |||
2012–2016 | South Africa | 22 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, 10 February 2022 (UTC) |
Phala was featured in a BBC documentary in 2004 entitled 'Football and Freedom' which followed the paths of two 13-year-old South Africans aiming to become professional footballers.
Since making his debut for the South Africa national football team in 2010, Phala has appeared at both the 2013 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored Bafana Bafana's opening goal of the 2015 tournament in a 3–1 loss to Algeria.[1]
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
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1 | 4 January 2015 | Orlando Stadium, South Africa | ![]() | 1–0 | 1–0 | International Friendly |
2 | 19 January 2015 | Estadio de Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea | ![]() | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2015 African Cup of Nations |
South Africa squad – 2013 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
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South Africa squad – 2015 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
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