Washington, D.C. (August 25, 2009) - D.C. United announced today the club has acquired midfielder Tiyiselani Shipalane on loan from the Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2). Shipalane will serve as a roster replacement for Thabiso “Boyzzz” Khumalo, who has been put on the Disabled List. The club also announced forward Luciano Emilio has received his green card and will no longer count as an International on the team’s roster.
“We are pleased to be acquiring Tiyi on loan from Harrisburg for the rest of the 2009 season,” said General Manager Dave Kasper. “He impressed us in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals this year with his dynamic attacking qualities, and he will add solid cover for us in all competitions.”
Shipalane earned Rookie of the Year honors during his first season at Harrisburg after tallying six goals and six assists for the City Islanders. Before joining the USL-2 club, the South Africa native spent three seasons playing for the Michigan Bucks of the Premier Development League, tallying 11 goals and nine assists in 49 matches. In 2006, Shipalane scored the game-winning goal that gave Michigan the North American PDL Championship.
The midfielder played for Lindsey Wilson College from 2004 to 2007. During his senior year, Shipalane played all 22 games and tallied six goals and five assists on his way to being named to the NAIA All-American Second Team and All-Mid South Conference First-Team. In his junior season in 2006, he started all but one game, collecting 11 goals and seven assists, while being named NAIA Region XI Player of the Year and to the NAIA All-American Third Team and All-Mid South Conference First-Team. Shipalane started 11 of 24 games and contributed five goals and ten assists in the Blue Raiders NAIA Championship title run in 2005. During his freshman season at Lindsey Wilson, the midfielder scored four goals and added two assists playing in 24 games (11 starts).
Khumalo has played in eight games (two starts) this season, dishing out one assist. He has been key for United in its U.S. Open Cup campaign, playing in all five games (all starts) and scoring three goals. He was injured in the semifinal game and underwent surgery to repair a broken radius. After being out for several weeks, Khumalo contracted an infection, which will further sideline him.
Name: Tiyiselani Shipalane
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Jersey: 21
Date of Birth: October 5, 1985
Age: 23
Place of Birth: Tzaneen, South Africa
Citizenship: South Africa
Last Club: Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)
Roster status: International
Acquired: Signed on August 25, 2009.
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Doug Hicks,
dhicks@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5448,
Boris Flores,
bflores@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5452,
Kyle Sheldon,
ksheldon@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5450 or
Cristina Cruz,
ccruz@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5440
