Elias "The Horse" Tsabalaka is a Malawian retired footballer born in Zimbabwe.

Elias Tsabalaka
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-04-02) 2 April 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Zimbabwe
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Center-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–2007 Manzini Wanderers F.C.
2008 ESCOM United FC
2008–2012 Manzini Wanderers F.C.
2012–2013 Manzini Sundowns F.C.[1]
2013–2014 Mbabane Swallows F.C.
International career
2008 Malawi 1 (0)
Managerial career
2015– Manzini Wanderers F.C. (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mistaken by some as Zimbabwean, he clarified that assumption by saying that "My mother is Zimbabwean, while my father is from Malawi. I was born in Zimbabwe and grew up playing football in that country and came straight from that country when joining Wanderers. But my family, including my sisters, brothers and grandparents are in Malawi." He has one cap for Malawi in a friendly.[3]

With Lwazi Maziya, the 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)-tall captain was named as assistant to Kenny Ndlazi of Manzini Wanderers F.C. in 2015. The Swazi Football Coaches Association (SFCA) implored the National Football Association of Swaziland to revoke their hiring as they were "unqualified players".[4]

Swaziland

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Manzini Wanderers
Captain of Manzini Wanderers F.C. for over two seasons, he wore the number 4 jersey and "earned himself accolades as one of the best defenders in the local premier league" and was said to be "good in the air defensively and offensively".[5] He scored his first goal in four years with the "Maroon and Whites" which increased their position to 4th.[6]

He won the Swazi Charity Cup Best Player award, which was his first individual award in his career.[7]

He applied for Swazi citizenship in 2013, having lived there for 10 years which was enough to procure Swazi citizenship.[8]

He left Manzini Sundowns F.C. in summer 2013 when the board decided not to renew his one-season contract.[9]

Mbabane Swallows
Tsabalaka left Mbabane Swallows and was deregistered from the club in early 2014.[10]

Awards, trophies and achievements

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References

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  1. ^ "Zendera praised". The Zimbabwean. October 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Player Details". cafonline.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Wanderers' Tsabalaka receives call-up in Malawi national team". Stories on Malawi. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. ^ Bhekisisa Magongo (13 July 2015). "COACHES WANT MBAYA, 'SHANA' STOPPED". Times Of Swaziland. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  5. ^ Swazi Observer http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=34707. Retrieved 11 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) [dead link]
  6. ^ Bhekisisa Magongo (6 November 2011). "Tsabalaka wins it for Weslians'". Times Of Swaziland. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
    - Bhekisisa Magongo (13 November 2009). "Can Tsabalaka apprehend Souleymane?". Times Of Swaziland. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. ^ Dumisani Ntiwane (24 August 2012). "Tsabalaka is best player!". Times Of Swaziland. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. ^ Dumisani Ntiwane (20 May 2013). "Tsabalaka applies for Swazi citizenship". Times Of Swaziland. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. ^ Nsindiso Tsabedze (2 July 2013). "Sundowns release Tsabalaka". Swazi Observer. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017.
  10. ^ Nsindiso Tsabedze (21 January 2014). "'Birds' sack Elias Tsabalaka". Swazi Observer. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017
  11. ^ Bodwa Mbingo (4 November 2013). "'Birds' are champions!". Swazi Observer. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017
    - "Swaziland 2010/11". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
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