# Thuso Phala

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuso_Phala
> Source revision: 1263730319
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{{short description|South African soccer player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Thuso Phala
| image =
| fullname =
| height = {{height|m=1.70}}
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|05|27}}
| birth_place = [Soweto](/source/Soweto), South Africa
| currentclub  = 
| clubnumber = 
| position = [Right winger](/source/Winger_(association_football))
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [Wits University](/source/Wits_University_F.C.) 
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = [Silver Stars](/source/Silver_Stars_(South_Africa)) 
| years1 = 2006–2007 
| clubs1 = [Silver Stars](/source/Silver_Stars_(South_Africa)) 
| caps1  = 17
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2007–2009 
| clubs2 = [Kaizer Chiefs](/source/Kaizer_Chiefs_F.C.) 
| caps2  = 32
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2009–2010
| clubs3 = [Mamelodi Sundowns](/source/Mamelodi_Sundowns_F.C.)
| caps3  = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2010–2013
| clubs4 = [Platinum Stars](/source/Platinum_Stars_F.C.)
| caps4  = 81
| goals4 = 12
| years5 = 2013–2019
| clubs5 = [SuperSport United](/source/SuperSport_United_F.C.)
| caps5  = 141
| goals5 = 20
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = [Black Leopards](/source/Black_Leopards_F.C.)
| caps6  = 12
| goals6 = 0
| nationalteam1 = [South Africa](/source/South_Africa_national_football_team)
| nationalyears1 = 2012–2016
| nationalcaps1 = 22
| nationalgoals1 = 2
}}

'''Thuso Phala''' (born 27 May 1986) is a retired South African [football](/source/football_(soccer)) [midfielder](/source/midfielder). He is the inventor of [Thuso Phala dance moves](/source/Thuso_Phala_dance_moves) that  became popular to South African soccer fans and dancers at large, the moves he made after scoring a goal.

Phala was featured in a BBC documentary in 2004 entitled 'Football and Freedom' which followed the paths of two 13-year-old South Africans aiming to become professional footballers.

==International career==
Since making his debut for the [South Africa national football team](/source/South_Africa_national_football_team) in 2010, Phala has appeared at both the [2013](/source/2013_Africa_Cup_of_Nations) and [2015](/source/2015_Africa_Cup_of_Nations) [Africa Cup of Nations](/source/Africa_Cup_of_Nations). He scored Bafana Bafana's opening goal of the 2015 tournament in a 3–1 loss to [Algeria](/source/Algeria_national_football_team).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30773500|title=Algeria 3–1 South Africa|accessdate=24 January 2015|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

===International goals===

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 4 January 2015 || [Orlando Stadium](/source/Orlando_Stadium), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa) || {{fb|Zambia}} || '''1'''–0 || 1–0 || International Friendly
|-
| 2 || 19 January 2015 || [Estadio de Mongomo](/source/Estadio_de_Mongomo), [Equatorial Guinea](/source/Equatorial_Guinea) || {{fb|Algeria}} || '''1'''–0 || 1–3 || [2015 African Cup of Nations](/source/2015_African_Cup_of_Nations)
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{NFT player|49375}}
*{{Soccerway|thuso-phala/62359}}

{{South Africa Squad 2013 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{South Africa squad 2015 Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phala, Thuso}}
Category:1986 births
Category:Living people
Category:South African men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players
Category:Platinum Stars F.C. players
Category:Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. players
Category:SuperSport United F.C. players
Category:Black Leopards F.C. players
Category:Soccer players from Soweto
Category:South Africa men's international soccer players
Category:2013 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2015 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:21st-century South African sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thuso Phala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuso_Phala) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuso_Phala?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.