Jabu Mahlangu

Jabu Jeremiah Mahlangu (formerly Jabu Jeremiah Pule) (born 11 July 1980 in Daveyton, Gauteng) is a retired South African football (soccer) midfielder who last played for Supersport United.

Jabu Mahlangu
Personal information
Full name Jabu Jeremiah Mahlangu
Date of birth (1980-07-11) 11 July 1980
Place of birth Daveyton, South Africa
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder,
Central midfielder
Youth career
0000–1999 Kaizer Chiefs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2004 Kaizer Chiefs 99 (27)
2004–2005 SV Mattersburg 22 (2)
2005–2006 Supersport United 9 (0)
2006–2007 Orlando Pirates 18 (1)
2008 Östers IF 13 (5)
2009 Platinum Stars 12 (2)
2010 Östers IF 22 (1)
2012 FC Cape Town 0 (0)
2014 Supersport United 3 (0)
Total 185 (33)
National team‡
1999–2000 South Africa U-23 17 (1)
2000–2004 South Africa 20 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 September 2014
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 February 2012

Pule affectionately known as "Shuffle" or "Ngwana wa Tshwenya" — literally "troublesome child" — to his supporters, for his ability to turn defenders around. It was once said by SABC sport commentator that, when Pule is on song, the opposition dances. He was a crowd puller at his former and first professional team, Kaizer Chiefs.

Although being considered a hugely talented, he often had numerous off-field and disciplinary issues in the past. Most of his troublesome behavior was attributed to drinking alcohol. In the height of his professional football he impregnated the Willowmore High School girl, Twhana Songame - now his wife of two children. He has since said that the cause of his alcohol addiction was his mother's death. Jabu Mahlangu had the humility to suggest that she leaves him when he hit rock bottom. He attributes himself being clean and sober from alcohol to her. He says she encouraged him to join the Super Sport channel as a soccer analyst.

Club career

Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs was Pule's first club, where he was perennially in trouble for his wayward behaviour but forgiven on countless occasions because of his importance to the team. But Chiefs' officials lost patience with Pule and refused to give him a new contract when it ended in 2004.

SV Mattersburg

His fortunes were no different as he only lasted eight months before he was sent packing. Jabu was asked to leave the club after crashing his car while under the influence of alcohol.

SuperSport United

Twice sent to a rehabilitation clinic to overcome his drinking and drugs problem, Pule was sacked by SuperSport United late 2005 after missing several training sessions.

Orlando Pirates

But Irvin Khoza, chairman of Orlando Pirates, decided to take a chance on the former South Africa international, who has been kicked out at his three previous clubs.

In early 2006, Jabu Pule changed his surname to Mahlangu, the name of his deceased father.

Östers IF

Pule left the country on 23 June 2008 to Sweden for trials with Helsingborgs IF and fellow Swedish clubs IF Limhamn Bunkeflo and Östers IF after training under the guidance of Farouk Khan at his academy in South Africa.

He completed 13 games for Östers IF in Division 1 Södra, helping bring the team to the verge of promotion into Superettan, while showing none of the problematic behaviour that had previously marred his career.

In February 2010, Jabu returned to Växjö to try and secure a long term deal with now Superettan newcomers Östers IF. On 18 February he signed a one-year contract with the club.[1]

South African National Team

He made 20 appearances for the South Africa national football team from 2000 to 2004,[2] and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and at the 2000 Olympic Games.[3] during the departure for the World Cup, the president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, was handshaking the players wishing them good luck and when he came to Jabu he said "Jabu, you must behave yourself".

The most defining moment for Jabu Mahlangu that hurt not just him but the South African Nation soccer scene as a whole came in 2010 when South Africa Hosted the FIFA World Cup. His unbecoming behavior cost him not making the selection for the National team.

Career statistics

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 April 2000Setsoto Stadium, Maseru, Lesotho Lesotho0–2Win2002 FIFA World Cup qual.
2.24 August 2002Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa Swaziland4–1Win2002 COSAFA Cup
Correct as of 9 March 2017[4][5]
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References
  1. Osterfotboll.com. "Jabu klar för Öster". Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  2. Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando; Tabeira, Martín (28 May 2009). "South Africa - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  3. "Jabu Pule Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  4. South Africa - International Matches 1996-2000
  5. South Africa - International Matches 2001-2005
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