Tsepo Masilela was a rock-solid performer for Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs, UEFA Champions League side Maccabi Haifa and Spanish LaLiga outfit Getafe. Where is the ex-swashbuckling left-back now he’s done with football?
MASILELA WAS PURE CLASS
Whether he was scooping up accolades and silverware with Kaizer Chiefs or lining up for Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League, Tsepo Masilela was one of the most underrated left-backs around. Equally adept at defending his box or bombing forward into the final third, he was ahead of his time as a modern full-back. In 2014-15 with Chiefs, he was a pivotal piece of the puzzle, making 28 appearances in the league and supplying three assists. Let’s take a closer look at his playing career next.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 IN SOUTH AFRICA
Masilela played in all three of Bafana’s group games at the historic 2010 World Cup, which was hosted on home soil. He was a half-time substitute for Lucas Thwala in the 1-1 draw with Mexico and started the two subsequent games against France and Uruguay.
EX-KAIZER CHIEFS STAR TASTED THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
It all started on the local scene at Hellenic in 2004 when Masilela moved to Richards Bay after earning his stripes in Cape Town. A switch to Thanda Royal Zulu followed before his first big break with Maccabi Haifa. Masilela made 127 appearances for the Israeli giants between 2007 and 2011. In 2009/10, he plundered an incredible 13 assists to steer them into the following season’s UEFA Champions League, where he made six appearances. The next stop on his journey was with Spanish LaLiga side Getafe where Masilela became a key figure despite only signing for the capital club on a season-long loan.
BACK IN MZANSI
Tsepo returned home in 2012, just in time to be an integral member of title-winning Kaizer Chiefs teams in 2013 and 2015. After six years with Amakhosi, Masilela rounded out his playing days between 2019 and 2022 with AmaZulu. He has 46 caps to his name for Bafana Bafana.
WHERE IS HE NOW?
Speaking to Robert Marawa in April 2023 and reflecting on his career, he said:
“I’m blessed and I thank God. I played in AFCON, the World Cup, Confed, the CAF Champions League and the UEFA Champions League. I’m happy with the career I had. Blessed.”
In case you didn’t know, he’s the older brother of Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela. Left-back talent is a family thing, and Maela now has 200 appearances for the Buccaneers. According to reports, Masilela is now involved in the mining industry and mentioned in his chat with Mr Marawa that he’s taking his UEFA C coaching badges. He officially called time on his career in this interview, and what a career it’s been.
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