Jabu Mahlangu

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)
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)
International career‡
1999–2000	South Africa U-23	17	(1)
2000–2004	South Africa	20	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 September 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2012

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.

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 huge talente, he often had numerous off-field and disciplinary issues in the past. Most of his troublesome behaviour was attributed to drinking. He has since said that the cause of his alcohol addiction was his mother's death.

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 problems, 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.

South African National Team

He made 20 appearances for the South Africa national football team from 2000 to 2004, and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and at the 2000 Olympic Games. 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".

External links

• Jabu Mahlangu at National-Football-Teams.com
• Guardian's Stats Centre