| Sibusiso Zuma | |
| Full Name: | Sibusiso Wiseman Zuma[1] |
| Birth Date: | 23 June 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Durban, South Africa |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Position: | Striker, attacking midfielder, right winger |
| Youthclubs1: | Mighty Pa |
| Years1: | 1995–1998 |
| Clubs1: | African Wanderers |
| Caps1: | 71 |
| Goals1: | 29 |
| Years2: | 1998–2000 |
| Clubs2: | Orlando Pirates |
| Caps2: | 70 |
| Goals2: | 37 |
| Years3: | 2000–2005 |
| Clubs3: | F.C. Copenhagen |
| Caps3: | 145 |
| Goals3: | 40 |
| Years4: | 2005–2008 |
| Clubs4: | Arminia Bielefeld |
| Caps4: | 69 |
| Goals4: | 8 |
| Years5: | 2008–2009 |
| Clubs5: | Mamelodi Sundowns |
| Caps5: | 12 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2009–2010 |
| Clubs6: | Nordsjælland |
| Caps6: | 13 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2010–2011 |
| Clubs7: | Vasco da Gama |
| Caps7: | 27 |
| Goals7: | 11 |
| Years8: | 2011–2015 |
| Clubs8: | SuperSport United |
| Caps8: | 39 |
| Goals8: | 6 |
| Totalcaps: | 446 |
| Totalgoals: | 133 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1998–2008 |
| Nationalteam1: | South Africa |
| Nationalcaps1: | 66 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 13 |
Sibusiso Wiseman Zuma (born 23 June 1975) is a South African former professional footballer who played as a forward or midfielder.
Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma started his career for South African clubs Mighty Pa, African Wanderers and Orlando Pirates.
In June 2000, Zuma joined Danish club F.C. Copenhagen, where he blossomed as a player.[2]
In 2001 Zuma was tied for 29th place for the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award, for his performance in the 2000–01 season.
He helped the club win its second Danish football championship in the 2000–01 season, where Copenhagen won the Copenhagen Derby 3–1 in the last match of the season. He scored a bicycle kick that match, volleying the ball into the top corner out of Brøndby keeper Mogens Krogh's reach. This was later voted the Danish goal of the year,[3] and was voted the best Superliga goal of the decade in December 2009.[4]
Zuma was voted into the club's hall of fame for his outstanding efforts in the 2004–05 season. In 2006 Zuma was voted number one by the fans among the greatest profiles to have ever played in F.C. Copenhagen.[5]
In March 2013, FCK TV visited Zuma back in his home country for an interview, where he stated, "I enjoyed every day at the club", that he is very thankful and "owes everything to the club."[6] Later that year, Zuma's bicycle kick was voted the greatest moment in the history of F.C. Copenhagen.[7] As a result, a monument was created to honor Zuma. Zuma himself was invited by F.C. Copenhagen and attended Parken Stadium on 18 August 2013 where the unveiling of the monument took place, which is a replica of his bicycle kick.[8] [9] [10]
After five and a half years at FC Copenhagen, Zuma was sold to German Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld for €1 million in July 2005.[11]
On 21 June 2008, Zuma signed for Mamelodi Sundowns.[12] He was released in the summer of 2009 and in October 2009 he had a trial period with FC Nordsjælland, eventually being signed by the club.
On 16 October 2009, he signed a one-year contract with the Danish club FC Nordsjælland. On 8 November 2009, Zuma scored his first goal for Nordsjælland in the club's 1–0 win over SønderjyskE.[13] When Nordsjælland visited F.C. Copenhagen on 24 March 2010 in a Danish League match, Zuma played well and was substituted to a large majority of the F.C. Copenhagen supporters applauding him. A distinctly touched Zuma claimed that the home supporters were incredible.[14]
In 2010, Zuma joined Vasco da Gama, based in Cape Town. He played one season for the club.
In 2011, Zuma joined SuperSport United, where he stayed until announcing his retirement in 2015.
He has represented South Africa 67 times. He played for his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Zuma was the captain of South African National team at the 2006 African Cup of Nations tournament.
In 2010, Zuma opened the Sibusiso Zuma Foundation which works with young kids with HIV.[15] The foundation also works with "prevention and education about HIV/Aids" and "the prevention of HIV infection and/or the distribution of information relating to HIV/Aids".[16]
He is also known as "Zuma the Puma" to the Copenhagen supporters and "Puma" appears on his shirt instead of "Zuma" in the PES 2009 video game.
On 25 June 2007, it was reported that Zuma had been involved in an incident in his home country South Africa.[17] After an altercation there were allegations that he threatened to shoot a group of men at a party in Kokstad. The local police investigated the situation, and Zuma was prevented from leaving the country for a period, but no charges were made.[18]
Zuma told in the 2002 documentary "Zuma the Puma" that his father was never very supportive of his footballing career, never believing in him, telling him he would never be good enough, never coming to his games and always working instead. When Zuma moved to the Orlando Pirates in 1998, his father told him "The good players play on the national team." Zuma's father died the day before his son played his first game for the South Africa national team.[19]
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zuma goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 March 2001 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 2 | 1 July 2001 | 4 August Stadium, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 3 | 3 February 2002 | Amady Ngaou Stadium, Segou, Mali | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2002 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
| 4 | 3 September 2005 | 4 August Stadium, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 5 | 8 October 2005 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 6 | 2–2 | ||||||
| 7 | 12 November 2005 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | 1–1 | 2–3 | Friendly | ||
| 8 | 24 March 2007 | Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, Ndjamena, Chad | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 9 | 2 June 2007 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 10 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 11 | 17 June 2007 | Stade Municipal, Pointe-Noire, Congo | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 12 | 13 January 2008 | Chatsworth Stadium, Durban, South Africa | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | ||
| 13 | 16 January 2008 | King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban, South Africa | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
F.C. Copenhagen
2001[20]
FC Nordsjælland