Born on 16th September 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Height : - 1.78m  ( ' ")

Wieght : -  79 kgs  (st lbs)

A strongly built defender, who impressed Tottenham on their two match tour of South Africa in July 2003, Orlando Pirates' Mbulelo Mabizela was brought back on the plane with them to England, where he trained and further shone in matches against Luton Town and Sporting Lisbon.

The tough tackling defender won over the fans in the Lisbon match and his calmness on the ball, allied with good distribution meant that most thought Tottenham should sign him up for about £1 million.  Which is what the club did in August 2003, after getting a work permit on appeal. 

Called up for his South Africa debut in 10th November 2001 against Egypt, he became the country's youngest ever football captain aged 21 (v Trinidad and Tobago on 14th June 2003) and had played over 40 times for South Africa (October 2005) and has scoring twice.

The 22 year old shows all the strengths that Spurs had been lacking in a defender.  An imposing presence, a willingness to get stuck in and someone who is good in the air.  Hopefully, he will not suffer the injury jinx that most of the Spurs team fall victim to these days.

He has expressed problems with his team-mates not helping him settle in, but this was dismissed as a loss on meaning in interpretation to a South African newspaper.  His presence in the first team was not immediately forthcoming, Mbelulo made his debut for Tottenham against Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium on 19th October 2003 and hit the winning goal - a thirty yard pile-driver.

He failed to find a regular place in the team and when new Head Coach Jacques Santini came in, he was not considered for the first team.

Having played seven matches and scored one goal and playing a couple of games under the new management of Jacques Santini, the club released him in November 2004 after he failed to establish himself in the first team.  On leaving Spurs, he joined Valerenga, but in August 2006, Mabizela left Norway to return home to play for Mamelodi Sundowns, where he was the subject of a positive drugs test, which earned him a lengthy suspension from playing.

Following some disciplinary problems, he left the Sundowns and was offered a contract with the Platinum Stars, but a drink-drive charge was brought against Mbulelo, although this was later withdrawn as his rights had not been properly explained to him.  He was re-offered terms with the Platinum Stars, after they had originally withdrawn the contract and he played with them, turning out against England in a pre-World Cup friendly in 2010.

MIDDLE NAME : -

NICKNAME : -  Oldjohn (His mother's maiden name, which is traditionally assumed as a nickname) or OJ (for short); Mabs

MIDDLE NAME :

Career Record
 

Club	Signed	Fee	Debut	Apps	Goals
Orlando Pirates (South Africa)	2001	??	??	??	??
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR	2003	??	??	??	??
Valerenga (Norway)	2005	??	??	??	??
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)	2006	??	??	??	??
Platinum Stars (South Africa)	2009	??	??	??	??

Career Record
- -
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
- -
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals

Honours
- international
- full caps;  - goals
Under-21 caps; goals
- Cup winners medal 19---

Milestones
- appearance