Bafana Bafana may have lost out on the last three World Cup finals, but the club has an extensive history and a number of great players. From their impact and honours to their popularity and longevity in the sport, these are five of the best South African footballers in history.
Neil Tovey
Tovey might be less accomplished compared to others on this list but that doesn’t make him any less of an impressive player. As South Africa’s first-ever captain, Tovey has earned himself a spot in the history books. He was also the first player to ever reach a half-century of caps for the national side, proving his incredible ability and talent. Tovey was a truly inspiring player that motivated those around him to overcome challenges.
Lucas Radebe
Mandela’s self-confessed hero, Radebe was one of the Nation Builders who represented Bafana Bafana in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He left Kaizer Chiefs back in 1994 to become one of the most established defenders in the Premier League during his time with Leeds United, and remains to this day as one of the greatest players Leeds has ever signed. The team at the Infogol blog speculate that Radebe could have achieved even higher fame had the Whites not rejected Manchester United’s bid for the player, but he still earned a great reputation as a skilled defender and captain.
Benni McCarthy
McCarthy is the only South African player to ever have won the Champions League, an achievement worthy of a place in the list of top South African footballers of all time. He enjoyed early success with Ajax and then transferred to England where he was scoring goals for Blackburn Rovers. McCarthy also featured for Bafana Bafana at two Mundials and is still the top all-time scorer for South Africa.
Patrick Ntsoelengoe
Ntsoelengoe is one of the greatest talents of the South African game, but because of the apartheid regime, South Africa were banned from competing in international competition until 1992 so his international record spans just one match. Despite this, his career actually ran from 1971 until 1984, where he achieved idol status for his incredible skills on the pitch.
Doctor Khumalo
Khumalo was a national hero during his time as a footballer and was known as one of the Nation Builders who won the African Cup of Nations back in 1996. He was also the first Bafana Bafana player to score an international goal following independence and earned 50 caps, serving as one of the continent’s most talented midfielders. Khumalo represented South Africa in France in the World Cup too in 1998 and is a legend with Kaizer Chiefs where he made close to 400 league appearances. His career spanned 16 years and he made a number of tournament wins and domestic championships during that time, although he never successfully made the switch to European football. Since retiring from playing, having played in the United States and Argentina as well, he’s become a coach in his homeland.