Siyanda Xulu

Siyanda Xulu (born 30 December 1991) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for SuperSport United and the South Africa national team.

Siyanda Xulu

Xulu with FC Rostov in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Siyanda Xulu
Date of birth	(1991-12-30) 30 December 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth	Durban, South Africa
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	SuperSport United
Number	5
Youth career
0000–2008	Royal Coastal
2008–2009	Kaizer Chiefs
2009	Mamelodi Sundowns
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2012	Mamelodi Sundowns	72	(4)
2012–2015	Rostov	30	(0)
2015–2017	Kaizer Chiefs	6	(0)
2017–2020	Maritzburg United	70	(3)
2020–2022	Hapoel Tel Aviv	49	(0)
2022–2023	Turan Tovuz	25	(1)
2023–	SuperSport United	8	(0)
International career‡
2012–	South Africa	31	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 November 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 April 2024

Club career

Xulu was born in Durban. During his formative years, he spent time in the Kaizer Chiefs academy before being released in 2009 whereafter he joined Mamelodi Sundowns.^[1][2]

In May 2010 Xulu was offered a trial by Barcelona,^[3] before having a two-week trial with Arsenal in September 2010, which he also failed to do enough to win a contract.^[4]

In September 2012 Xulu joined Russian Premier League side FC Rostov, signing a four-year contract.^[5] At Rostov, Zulu won the Russian Cup of the 2013–14 footballing season.^[6]

He was released by Maritzburg United at the end of the 2019–20 season.^[7]

On 29 July 2020, Xulu signed for Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Tel Aviv.^[8]

On 30 June 2023, Turan Tovuz announced the departure of Xulu after his contract had expired.^[9]

On 28 July 2023, SuperSport United announced the signing of Xulu to a two-year contract.^[10]

International career

Xulu made his debut for the South Africa national team on 15 June 2012 in the match against Gabon, he substituted Morgan Gould at the 80th minute. On 28 May 2018, he was named captain for the nation's 2018 COSAFA Cup campaign.^[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 22 May 2023^[6]

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mamelodi Sundowns	2009–10	Premier Division	21	3			–				21	3
	2010–11		25	1			–				25	1
	2011–12		26	0	3	0	–		4[a]	0	31	0
	2012–13		0	0	0	0	–		2[b]	0	1	0
	Total		72	4	3	0	–		5	0	80	4
Rostov	2012–13	Russian Premier League	11	0	1	0	–		1	0	13	0
	2013–14		15	0	1	0	–		–		16	0
	2014–15		4	0	1	0	0[c]	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		30	0	3	0	–		1	0	34	0
Kaizer Chiefs	2015–16	Premier Division	5	0	0	0	0[d]	0	4[e]	0	9	0
	2016–17		1	0	0	0	–		0	0	1	0
	Total		6	0	0	0	–		4	0	10	0
Maritzburg United	2017–18	Premier Division	29	2	5	1	–		4[f]	0	38	3
	2018–19		29	0	1	0	–		3[g]	0	33	0
	2019–20		12	1	2	0	–		2[h]	0	16	1
	Total		70	3	8	1	–		9	0	87	4
Hapoel Tel Aviv	2020–21	Israeli Premier League	31	0	3	1	–		1[i]	0	35	1
	2021–22		18	0	1	0	–		5[i]	0	24	0
	Total		49	0	4	1	–		6	0	59	1
Turan Tovuz	2022–23	Azerbaijan Premier League	25	1	2	0	–				27	1
Career total			252	8	20	2	0	0	25	0	297	10

1. Three appearances in the MTN 8 Cup and one appearance in the Telkom Knockout.
2. One appearance in the Telkom Knockout.
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in CAF Champions League
5. Four appearances in the MTN 8 Cup.
6. Three appearances in the MTN 8 Cup and one appearance in the Telkom Knockout.
7. One appearances in the MTN 8 Cup and two appearances in the Telkom Knockout.
8. Two appearances in the Telkom Knockout.
9. Appearances in the Toto Cup

International

As of matches played on 10 February 2024^[12]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
South Africa	2012	1	0
	2013	2	0
	2014	1	0
	2018	3	1
	2021	7	0
	2022	4	0
	2023	9	0
	2024	4	0
Total		31	0

As of match played on 5 June 2018

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Xulu goal.^[12]

List of international goals scored by Siyanda Xulu

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 June 2018	Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa	Namibia	4–1	4–1	2018 COSAFA Cup

Honours

Rostov^[6]

• Russian Cup: 2013–14

South Africa

• Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2023^[13]

References

1. Xulu and Abraw lead list of seven players released by Kaizer Chiefs, goal.com, 13 June 2017
2. "Why Siyanda Xulu chose Kaizer Chiefs over Mamelodi Sundowns". Kickoff.com.
3. "Barcelona offers trials for South African prospect Siyanda Xulu". totalbarca. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
4. "MAMELODI SUNDOWNS DEFENDER SIYANDA XULU FAILS TO WIN ARSENAL DEAL". Tribalfootball. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
5. "Ксулу перешел в "Ростов"". FC Rostov. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
6. Siyanda Xulu at Soccerway
7. Mkhize, Minenhle (29 June 2020). "Siyanda Xulu leaves Maritzburg United". Independent Online. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
8. Rahmani, Maor (29 July 2020). "הבלם סיאנדה קולו סיכם לשנתיים בהפועל ת"א" (in Hebrew). One. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
9. ""Turan Tovuz" PFK müqavilə müddətləri başa çatan Turan Vəlizadə, Natan Oduva, Şakir Seyidov və Siyanda Xuluya xidmətlərinə görə təşəkkür edir, gələcək karyerasında uğurlar arzulayır!". facebook.com/TuranTovuzPFK (in Azerbaijani). Turan Tovuz Facebook. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
10. "XULU SIGNS FOR UNITED". supersportunited.co.za. SuperSport United F.C. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
11. "Maritzburg United's Siyanda Xulu surprised by Bafana captaincy for COSAFA Cup". Kick Off. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
12. "Siyanda Xulu". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
13. Edwards, Piers (10 February 2024). "South Africa 0–0 DR Congo". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.