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The Citizen
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Soccer star Thulani Hlatshwayo flexes new R1m ride [PICS]
Thulani Hlatshwayo is enjoying life off the pitch, just weeks after SuperSport United was sold and his contract expired. Former Bafana Bafana captain and Supersport United defender Thulani 'Tyson' Hlatshwayo showed off his new set of wheels recently. Instagram/ thulani03 South African footballer Thulani 'Tyson' Hlatshwayo may be without a club, but he's definitely not in short supply of style. The 35-year-old former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain has recently been spotted behind the wheel of a sleek new Volkswagen Golf 8.5 R, valued at just more than R1 million in South Africa. Thulani Hlatshwayo: Luxury ride for a soccer legend The supercar, known for its turbocharged performance and refined design, joins an impressive garage of vehicles the defender has owned over the years. These included a rugged Jeep Wrangler Rubicon worth around R780,000, and a VW Golf 7 GTI – showcasing Tyson's preference for high-performance machines. Thulani Hlatshwayo shows off his black Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Picture: Instagram Shared in a recent Instagram post, the Golf 8.5 R drew attention for both its bold styling and the timing of its debut, just weeks after Hlatshwayo's contract with SuperSport United officially ended on 30 June 2025. Life after SuperSport: Uncertain future, certain swagger Following the surprise R50-million sale of SuperSport United to Calvin Le John, the son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, the newly renamed Siwelele FC retained several staff members but did not extend Hlatshwayo's contract. Thulani Hlatshwayo (right) with coach Gavin Hunt after joining Supersport United as defender. Picture: SuperSport/X With his future club still unknown, it's clear that Hlatshwayo is taking time to enjoy the rewards of his hard work, including his flashy new Golf and some well-earned family time. The veteran defender posted some photos of himself and his son posing alongside his new set of wheels. Take a look… ALSO READ: 'If Pitso bought it, I'd be happy' – Masina saddened by SuperSport sale Doting father and husband Over the years, Hlatshwayo has been vocal on social media about his love and affection for his wife, Kenosi Masegela, whom he married in 2017. Thulani 'Tyson' Hlatshwayo and Kenosi Masegela on their wedding day in 2017. Picture: X The Hlatshwayos have become known for their luxury travel escapes, often sharing snapshots from tropical locales such as Thailand and Mauritius. Football star Thulani Hlatshwayo and his wife, Kenosi, on holiday. Picture: Instagram Their wanderlust lifestyle matches Hlatshwayo's high-performance car collection and gives fans a glimpse into the couple's taste for the finer things in life… From captain to cruiser: A storied career Thulani Hlatshwayo's journey from Senaone Gunners FC to captaining both Bidvest Wits and Bafana Bafana has cemented his place in local football history. After joining Orlando Pirates in 2020, expectations were high – especially following his standout performance in the 2019 AFCON, where South Africa stunned hosts Egypt. Thulani Hlatshwayo has not had the best of times at Orlando Pirates. Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images However, his spell at Pirates was marred by limited game time. Speaking to Hlatshwayo admitted he had 'fallen out of love with football' at Pirates, but reignited his passion after reuniting with coach Gavin Hunt at SuperSport. 'I'm happy now, I fell in love with the game again when I joined SuperSport,' he told the sports publication. Thulani Hlatshwayo: Net worth Hlatshwayo's estimated net worth of R2 million remains strong, thanks to endorsements, investments, and long-standing club contracts. According to NewsHub360, his salary during his Orlando Pirates tenure placed him among South Africa's Top 10 highest-earning footballers.

IOL News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Respect is earned: From Seagal's disaster to Chelsea's apathy to the PSL's governance crisis
Thulani Hlatshwayo of Supersport United is challenged by Gladwin Shitolo of Golden Arrows during their Betway Premiership clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday. BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Have you ever watched Attack Force? Consider yourself lucky if you haven't. It's a mid-2000s Steven Seagal movie that shows almost no respect for the medium. Seagal plays the commander of some elite US unit, murdered by — who knows what... Genetically modified soldiers? Perhaps. Aliens? Possibly. Vampires? By the end, it seems that way. In any event, Seagal looks uninterested — checked out — when he's on camera, which isn't for very long. About halfway through the incoherent mess, Seagal buggers off, having clearly decided he had better things to do with his life. From then on, body doubles, voice-overs, dubbed sections and stand-ins draped in shadow take over his role. It's so bad, it's comical. Watching the first half of Chelsea's performance on Wednesday night in the UEFA Europa Conference League final at the local pub against Real Betis dredged up similar feelings of confusion. It was somewhat clear — the starting XI confirming it — that the Blues had almost no respect for the match. It was a torrid first stanza from Enzo Maresca and his charges as they laboured to stifle a highly motivated Los Verdiblancos. The Blues improved immensely when Reece James was subbed on early in the second half. That change seemed to allow Cole Palmer and the front line to play their natural game with confidence. In any event, you'd expect a R24 billion-assembled side to squash one not even worth a fraction of that — and eventually, that's just what Chelsea did. Although it ended in a comfortable 4-1 victory, it could have been much smoother had the Londoners respected the moment and their opposition from the start. Sadly, the kind of disengagement seen on the pitch on Wednesday is not just a European problem — it's mirrored, more worryingly, in our own football ecosystem. Respect. I've been thinking about it a lot these past few weeks, especially in relation to football — and more specifically, our local game. It seems to be withering away by the week. It feels to me that the PSL have lost respect for their own brand, the clubs, the players and the fans. There's no arguing that this past season has been a messy affair. The Royal AM saga embarrassed the league and their stakeholders for far too long. An immediate response was required, but it never came. As soon as SARS got involved in managing that debacle, the Premiership's administrators should have expelled the club. In February, SuperSport United and Golden Arrows couldn't complete their game due to loadshedding. Three months later — with the league puzzle mostly solved, but still missing a critical piece — they finally completed the game this past Thursday. In the NFD, arbitration is still trying to resolve who will be promoted to the elite division and who will be relegated to the third tier. It's been almost a fortnight since the league concluded, and we still don't know who will be going up, nor who will contest the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs, which was scheduled to start last week. There has also been too much fan hooliganism — a slap on the wrist here and there — and a disturbing tendency toward inaction. Match officiating, meanwhile, has come under increasing scrutiny. I can appreciate that these are complicated matters to resolve and that such complex problems are not limited to South Africa, but right now, self-interest seems to be driving decisions within the league. That, ultimately, stems from a lack of transparency and open governance. A world-class league cannot be managed in such a way — not if it wants to project success and prestige, not if it wants the respect of its peers. The PSL cannot afford to check out and hope their name — its mere whisper of a presence — will sell the show. If they want to command respect, they must start by showing it: through decisive action, proper governance, and a return to basics.