Dancing winger: Where is ex-Chiefs and SSU star Thuso Phala now?

Not many footballers can boast about having a song about them during their heydays on the field of play. In the case of Soweto-born Thuso Phala, not only did he have a song, but he also had a popular dance move to go with it.

The 37-year-old former SuperSport United (SSU) right winger-cum-striker caused a frenzy with his shoulder-shaking celebration dance move during his career. The dance would give birth to the Thuso Phala gqom song by Bizizi, DJ Cleo and DJ Buckz in 2018.

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PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAREER

Phala’s career took off in 2006 when he joined defunct North West football club Silver Stars, which later changed its name to Platinum Stars before ceasing operations.

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After just one season with Dikwena, he made a move to Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, where he spent two seasons – between 2007 and 2009. Phala also had stints at Chloorkop with Mamelodi Sundowns, before moving back to Platinum Stars.

With a three-season deal at the club, Phala made an impact; netting 12 goals in over 80 appearances.

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But, it is with SuperSport United that the Phala name would mostly be remembered, having joined the Pretoria-based club in 2013 until 2019. The more time he spent, the more game time he received – giving rise to his goal tally, and of course, his signature celebration dance move.

Phala would then move to Black Leopards and unfortunately had to cut his contract short due to the COVID-19 lockdown. He unofficially hung up his boots in 2019.

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Although the right-winger never tasted league title glory, he lifted five major trophies with SSU i.e 1x Telkom Knockout, 2x Nedbank Cup trophies and 2x MTN8 trophies.

Internationally, Phala made his debut for Bafana Bafana in 2010. He also appeared at both the 2013 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. In total, he netted two goals for the national team.

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ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS

In 2017, Phala trended on social media on accusations of assault.

According to a woman named Zinhle Mbatha, the star was involved in a brawl at Stoep 15, a pub in Alexandra, Johannesburg. The woman alleged that she was hit with a beer bottle on her head during the fight when a woman who was allegedly with Phala attacked her, while the soccer player allegedly attacked her friend.

TimesLIVE reported at the time that SuperSport United released a statement stating that Phala denied all knowledge of the alleged abuse and had been seeking legal advice against the “defamatory allegations.”

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WHERE IS THUSO PHALA NOW?

During his 2020 sit-down interview on Prime Sports With Mahlatse at his mansion in Fourways, Johannesburg, Phala revealed that he is in the property industry. He told Mahlatse that he has tenants and is working on building communes with his mother, Suzan Phala, in Soweto.

“Those are things that I got into from an early age. That’s the lucky part. I’ve contained some properties which I have [sic],” he said.

Phala is also reportedly a bakkie driver where he works with his mother in the waste collection business.

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