Doctor Khumalo’s bio: age, children, wife, parents, stats, net worth
Doctor Khumalo is a South African football legend who played for Kaizer Chiefs and the national team. He is a remarkable figure honoured for many reasons, none more than his football skills. He had a glittering career playing in the midfield for Bafana Bafana. Aside from his distinguished career in clubs and countries, many of his fans are curious about his personal life.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Doctor Khumalo played professionally in both the domestic leagues and overseas. His talent took him abroad to Argentina and the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 90's. He scored many goals in high-stakes matches and has had stints as a coach.
Profile summary
| Full name | Theophilus Doctorson Khumalo |
| Other names | Doctor Khumalo |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | June 26, 1967 |
| Age | 57 years old (as of 2024) |
| Place of birth | Soweto, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 6'0" (182 cm) |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Mother | Mable Khumalo |
| Father | Eliakim Khumalo |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Spouse | Blanche Garises (m. 2007) |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Footballer, Football Coach |
| Net worth | $5.32 million |
| @dk15_official |
Doctor Khumalo's biography
Doctor Khumalo, real name Theophilus Khumalo, is best known for being the star midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs and the South African national team. Khumalo comes from a football lineage.
He is the son of Eliakim Khumalo (father) and Mable Khumalo (mother). His dad is a famous football player who played his trade in the 70's and 80's.
How old is Doctor Khumalo?
The South African former footballer was born on June 26, 1967, in Soweto, South Africa. As of 2024, Doctor Khumalo's age is 57 years old. His zodiac sign is Cancer.
Career
Khumalo launched his football career in 1984 as a youth player for the Moroka Swallows Reserves. Under the mentorship of his dad, he moved to Kaizer Chiefs, where he briefly represented their youth team. The following year, coach Ted Dumitru promoted Doctor Khumalo to the senior team, where he debuted against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.
Khumalo became a standout player for Kaizer Chiefs and remained loyal to the club throughout his career, aside from brief stints overseas. In 1995, he joined Argentinian club Ferro Carril Oeste for a six-month loan spell. This deal was facilitated by FIFA agent Marcelo Houseman. In 1996 and 1997, he played for the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Doctor Khumalo's soccer career peaked in the 1990s. He was a key player for the Kaizer Chiefs, helping them win three South African league championships and five league cups. In 1992, he was named South African Footballer of the Year. Following South Africa's re-admission to FIFA in 1992, Khumalo was selected for the national team's first official match against Cameroon.
South Africa won 1-0, with Khumalo scoring the decisive penalty. He was a prominent member of the victorious South African team at the 1996 African Nations Cup and also played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Throughout his international career, Doctor Khumalo earned 50 caps for South Africa (serving as captain twice) and scored nine goals, making him the 13th most-capped South African footballer.
One of his most memorable games was the 1996 Mandela Cup match against Brazil. Phil Masinga scored the first goal from Khumalo's corner kick, and Khumalo then scored the second goal, giving South Africa a 2-0 lead. However, Brazil staged a comeback in the second half, scoring three goals to win the match 3-2.
He retired in 2002 from professional soccer and had a short stint as a player-coach until 2004. Khumalo expressed a desire to become a soccer administrator, but in the interim, he worked as a television soccer commentator and presenter. Later in the same year, he was appointed the South African Under-17 national coach.
Source: Original
How many goals did Doctor Khumalo score?
While at Kaizer Chiefs, Khumalo featured in 397 league and cup appearances, scoring 207 goals. He also earned 50 caps playing for the national team, during which time he scored nine goals. He is currently the 13th most-capped South African footballer.
Which team is Doctor Khumalo coaching?
The former midfielder served as the assistant coach for Kaizer Chiefs before becoming a head coach for Kaizer Chiefs Under-17 team. He also served as the technical director at Baroka FC but resigned in 2018, citing personal reasons.
Doctor Khumalo holds the South African Football Association (SAFA) Level 1, 2, and 3 coaching licenses. He also obtained an English Football Association license in 2005 and a UEFA B license issued by the German Football Federation in 2007.
Is Doctor Khumalo a real doctor?
Theophilus Khumalo is not a real doctor but earned the moniker "Doctor" because of his middle name Doctorson. He is a legend in the nation's football heritage and the greatest player in the history of Kaizer Chiefs.
What is Doctor Khumalo's salary?
While particular details about Doctor Khumalo's salary at Baroka F.C. are undisclosed, he once revealed that his first salary was R8000 per month for a television appearance. Taking to Nedbank Reality Football, he stated:
My first salary was R8 000; I was still in high school. I thought my life was going to change. I was waiting for the first cheque. One day, I woke up, and I was told we were going somewhere. We went to a bank in Dube (Soweto), and my father had to sign for me, although it was my (bank) account.
Who is Doctor Khumalo's wife?
The former midfielder is married to a Namibian woman named Blanche Garises. Together, they are blessed with four kids. The names of Doctor Khumalo's children are Diego, Troy, Carl, and Theonada Livin Khumalo.
What happened to Doctor Khumalo's daughter?
In 2017, Doctor Khumalo's family received the news that his daughter, Theonada Livin Khumalo, was involved in a grizzly road accident. She was rushed to the hospital, but the injuries she sustained in the car crash were too severe. She later passed away. She was 25 years old at the time of her death.
Doctor Khumalo's latest news today
The former midfield legend has kept a low profile since his departure from the technical director role at Baroka F.C. He revealed that his busy schedule was hindering his duties. According to his Instagram profile, he is a Puma brand ambassador and a 10bet ambassador. Here are some latest news about him:
Doctor Khumalo coaches township hopefuls in Soweto
Doctor Khumalo held a coaching workshop in Soweto to address ineffective coaching tactics at Mampuru Hall. He shared his expertise with young and unlicensed coaches, focusing on modern tactical and technical approaches.
Khumalo emphasized the importance of proper coaching in reducing late talent development in townships, highlighting the role of coaches in building player confidence. He stated:
We want coaches to appreciate their role in building young talent confidence in sports and society. As a coach, you need to profile your players and having archives helps you grow. You need to improvise as a coach and take your job seriously because, in football, there are no shortcuts.
Ledwaba strong message to Doctor Khumalo
Former SAFA vice-president Ria Ledwaba sent a strong message to Doctor Khumalo urging him to unite South Africa’s soccer legends to reform the country’s football administration.
Ledwaba emphasized the need for unity among legends to challenge the current leadership. She criticized the divided state of soccer legends and urged Khumalo to reject individualistic offers from the administration.
I will not be silenced, I will stand up. I’m not standing up because I’m Ria Ledwaba, I’m standing up for football. The fight that I put here, the fight of the legends… it should not stop with me and they should not fight the same fight I’m fighting.
I said to legends and I will say it again, Doc [Khumalo]: ‘The legends of this country have got the power to change the status quo in SAFA but you can only do it if you are united. This thing of you not being united, divided, being called – Doctor you are being called to the office and [asked] ‘Doctor, tell me which position do you want, which national team you want to coach?’ It must stop!.
Khumalo outlines coach criteria for Kaizer Chiefs
As published by Afrik-Foot ZA on 6th June 2024, Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has emphasized the need for a new coach with a strong personality and arrogance to revive the club’s winning culture.
Khumalo highlighted the importance of a coach who can instill a trophy-winning mentality and make strategic player acquisitions that align with the club's high-pressure environment. Khumalo stated the following during the SABC Sport’s Soccerzone.
Personality determines whether you are a winner. Why I choose personality? At Kaizer Chiefs; when you look at the Chairman [Kaizer Motaung] his personality speaks volumes…The personality of how the club is run.
A coach that will come, we don’t need a coach that is a twinsaver. Kaizer Chiefs has always maintained a coach with arrogance. The players need to understand that this is Kaizer Chiefs that has supporters that are used to a culture of winning trophies.
When I signed, I signed when there were 12 to 14 top players, and I was made to be part of that. They marshaled me to join winners, but they were building a personality. There is no way you go to face your opponents and they don’t feel you, that’s a loss on its own. When the opponents look at the bench, they don’t feel it. I’m not taking away anything from anybody that’s there now, but Kaizer Chiefs is a team of personality.
Quick facts about Doctor Khumalo
- He is the current technical director of Baroka F.C.
- He started playing soccer in 1984 with Swallows Reserves.
- He was voted 62nd in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.
- He debuted his film acting with the German/South African production Themba.
- He believes young players would be better off investing money before buying flashy cars.
- He credits Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung for helping him understand money and how to use it.
Not many footballers can boast the footballing intelligence of Doctor Khumalo. He became a national icon synonymous with most of Bafana Bafana's glory days. His story is that of talent and passion, going from humble beginnings to becomeinga legend in sport. His contribution to South Africa's soccer heritage will hardly be forgotten.
Briefly.co.za recently published an article about Sibusiso Zuma. He is a retired South African footballer who played as a forward or attacking midfielder.
Born on June 23, 1975, in Durban, South Africa, Zuma is best known for his time at FC Copenhagen in Denmark and his contributions to the South African national team. Throughout his almost 2-decade career, he played for big clubs locally and abroad.
Source: Briefly News
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 5 years of experience writing articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019. The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies & gaming reviews, culture & travel. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
