South Africa Greatest All-time 23 member team

AFCON 1996

This is my all-time team for South Africa. If there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would bring to the tournament.  

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index. 

Africa Greatest All-Time Team

Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, 
Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Senegal,
North Africa, The Rest of Africa(excluding Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Nigeria and North Africa)

African Born

North Africa

Ghana World Cup 2022

South Africa was an early pioneer in African football.  They were the founding member of CAF in 1956.  However, due to the Apartheid, they were expelled from CAF in 1958 and suspened from FIFA in 1961(finally, expelled in 1976).  Bafana Bafana reentered international football in 1992 at the end of Apartheid and played in the World Cup Qualifiers for USA 1994.  In 1996, they made a significant progress when they won the African Cup of Nations, held at home.  Bafana Bafana went on to qualify for France 1998.  In the Finals, they earned two draws in the group stage.  In 2002, they earned their first World Cup victory against Slovenia.  In 2010, South Africa became the first African country to host the World Cup Finals.  They went out in the first round, but managed to beat France.  

The first non-racial, singular football association in South Africa was formed in 1991, and named the South African Football Association (SAFA). Previously, there had been a number of different, racially divided football bodies. These bodies, the Football Association of South Africa, the South African Soccer Association, the South African Soccer Federation and the South African National Football Association came together to form SAFA on 8 December 1991.

World Cup Finals in 2010

Team
GK:  Arthur Riley 
Arthur Riley had two caps for South Africa before leaving for England in 1925 to join Liverpool.  He spent 15 years there and played over 300 games. He was one of the first African-born players to make it in Europe. On 26 November 1939 Riley played in goal as part of an All-British XI versus the Football League, in the Red Cross Fund International.  In South Africa, he played for East Rand Protectorate Mines F.C.

GK: Hans Vonk
Hans Vonk was the starting keeper for South Africa at the 1998 World Cup Finals.  He played mainly in the Dutch league, notably with Heerenveen.  He also spent time with Ajax Amsterdam as well as Ajax Cape Town. He was capped for Holland at the youth level before representing South Africa 47 times at the senior level between 1997 and 2005. Vonk was born in South Africa.

GK: Banks Setlhodi 
Setlhodi was nicknamed "Banks" because of Gordon Banks.  He played for Kaizer Chiefs between 1970 and 1985. He could play in various outfield position as well. He represented South Africa twice in the 1970's before the international ban on South Africa due to the apartheid. He played for the multi-racial national team that beat Rhodesia 7-0 in 1977.

RB: Eddie Stuart

Stuart began his career with Rangers of Johannesburg before joining English side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1951.  The team was one of the best English sides in that generation.  He won three league titles and a FA Cup with them during the 1950's. He became club captain in 1959 following the retirement of Billy Wright.  He later played for Stoke City and Tranmere Rovers.

RB: Ryder Mofokeng
Ryder Mofokeng was born in 1950. He was the captain of Kaizer Chiefs for 11 years during the Golden Era of the club.   He played for them between 1975 and 1985.  It was his only club team. He was a legend with the club. He won 4 NPSL titles and a quadruple in 1981. Due to the Apartheid, he never played international football. He was from Soweto, South Africa.

CB: Lucas Radebe 
Lucas Radebe began playing in South Africa with Kaizer Chiefs in 1989, before transferring to Leeds United in 1994, where he played 200 matches for the Yorkshire side. During his spells at these clubs, he picked up the nicknames "Rhoo" and "The Chief". He became captain of Leeds United and also of the South African national team, most notably at World Cup 2002.  Fromm 1993 to 2003, he played over 70 times for South Africa.  In 2000, he was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award.

Lucas Radebe

CB: Neil Tovey

Neil Tovey was the captain of South Africa as it won the African Cup of Nations in 1996.  He won 52 caps between 1992 and 1997.  He started his career with Durban City,  He later played for AmaZulu and then Kaizer Chief. He holds the record for most appearances in the National Soccer League. His brother Mark was also a well-known footballer, but never got his chance to play internationally.

CB: Mark Fish
Mark Fish helped South Africa to win the 1996 African Cup of Nations, which was considered to be a historical event at the newly founded republic.  He had 62 caps for Bafana Bafana between 1993 and 2004.  He also went to play in the 1998 World Cup Finals in France. He started his career with Orlando Pirates.  In 1996, he joined Lazio in Italy, but failed to settle down.  He later played for Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, Ipswich Town and Jomo Cosmos.

CB: Simon Lehoko

Nicknamed the "Bull",  Simon Lehoko was considered one of the greatest defenders in Kaizer Chiefs' history.  He played between 1978 and 1985. He won a quadruple in 1981 with them.  Due to Apartheid, he was only capped twice.  He played in the famous multi-racial South Africa national team that beat Rhodesia in 1977.

LB: Tsepo Masilela

Tsepo Masilela has played 51 times for Bafana Bafana, participating in the 2006 African Nations Cup, 2008 African Nations Cup, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  For his club career, he is best remembered playing for Maccabi Haifa in Israel between 2007 and 2012. He also played briefly for Getafe in Spain. From 2012 onward, he played for Kaizer Chiefs back home. His father was also a soccer player.  He was voted 54th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.

Tsepo Masilela

CB/DM:  Aaron Mokoena
Aaron Mokoena is the youngest ever player to have represented South Africa.  He was capped 109 times between 1999 and 2010.  He was the captain of the 2010 World Cup team playing at home. For his club career, he joined Ajax Amsterdam in 1999, but played mainly in Belgium.  In 2005, he joined Blackburn Rovers and stayed there until 2009.  He also played for Portsmouth, where he also served as their captain.

 

CM: David Julio 

David Abraam Julius captained the South African

coloured national team in 1952. Julius was one of the first Black south Africans to play in Europe.  He joined Sporting Lisbon from Mozambique in 1956.  He was of the same generation as Steve Mokone. In Portugal, he was known as David Julio.  He earned 4 senior caps for Portugal.

RW:  Berry Nieuwenhuys
Born in Boksburg, Transvaal Province,  Berry Nieuwenhuys was one of six South Africans playing for Liverpool during the 1930's.  He played over 200 games for Liverpool between 1933 and 1947.  He scored 79 goals.  He attained double figures in goals scored in six consecutive seasons in the 1930s. The Second World War disrupted his career, forcing him to become guest players with Arsenal and West Ham during the War while he served in the Royal Air Force.

Berry Nieuwenhuys

RW: Craig Johnston
Born in South Africa of Australian background, Johnston joined Middlesbrough FC from Australia.  He was better known for his career with Liverpool FC between 1981 and 1988. He was a key member of the 1986 "double" winning team.  He also won the European Cup in 1984.  He was eligible for Australia, Scotland and South Africa, but he never had a senior international career. He had described playing football for Australia as "like surfing for England."

LW: Albert Johanneson 
Albert Johanneson left South Africa to play for Leeds United in 1960.  He stayed there for 9 years under Don Revie.  He is the first high profile Black player to play in the English league. In 1965, he appeared in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool, becoming the first Black player to play in the Final. Between 1970 and 1972, he played for York City.

LW: Johnny Hubbard
Hubbard spent the majority of his career at Scottish club Rangers, and later played for English club Bury before ending his career back in Scotland with Ayr United. He became the first foreign player to score a hat-trick in an Old Firm match in 1955.  He was the first African player to compete in the European Cup when he played in 1956 with Rangers versus Nice.

AM: Doctor Khumalo 
Doctor Khumalo earned 50 caps between 1992 and 2001.  He scored South Africa's first ever goal after it readmitted to international football in 1992.  He was a key player for South Africa as it won the 1996 African Cup of Nations and qualified for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.  At the club level, he played for Kaizer Chiefs before going to play for Colombus Crew in the MLS. He was also voted South African Footballer of the Year in 1992. 

Doctor Khumelo

AM/FW: Jomo Sono
Jomo Sono was considered to be one of South African players.  He started his career with Orlando Pirates.  He was remembered for playing for NY Cosmos with Pele.  He spent most of his professional career playing in NASL.  While playing with Atlanta Chiefs, Sono played with another South African soccer star of the time, Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelengoe. He found Jomo Cosmos in 1983 naming the club after himself and NY Cosmos.

AM/ST: Patrick Ntsoelengoe

Patrick Ntsoelengoe is considered to be South African greatest players.  Due to sanction against South Africa, he only earned two caps.  He spent most of his career playing in South Africa and North America. He started his career with Kazier Chiefs.  His best stint in the US was with Minnesota Kicks. He is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame(USA) for his 11 seasons in the NASL. 
  
FW: Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung played for Orlando Pirates before moving to play for Atlanta Chiefs in the NASL.  In his first season in the USA, he finished as the top scorer and won the Rookie of the Year award.  He also played for Denver Dynamos.   After he returned from the USA in 1970, he found Kaizer Chiefs naming the club after himself and Atlanta Chiefs.

ST: Benni McCarthy
Benni McCarthy is probably the most famous South African player after the end of Apartheid.  He is Bafana Bafana's all-time top-scorer with 32 goals.  He played in the World Cup Finals of 1998 and 2002, but missed out on the 2010 World Cup Finals playing at home. His best part of his club career was spent in Porto where he won the Champions' League in 2004. He was the league's top scorer in 2006. He also played for Seven Stars, Celta Vigo, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham and Orlando Pirates. 

Benni McCarthy

ST: Steve Mokone

Steve Mokone was the first black South African player to play in a professional European league when he joined Coventry in 1955.  He was nicknamed The Black Meteor and Kalamazoo.  His best stint was with Heracles Almelo in the Netherlands.  He played a few games for Cardiff City in Wales.  He also signed with FC Barcelona, Torino and Valencia, but made zero appearance.  

ST: Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson was capped twice for South Africa before he left for England in 1925.  He played for Liverpool between 1925 and 1936.  He scored 233 goals in the top-flight from 358 appearances.  He is the 4th all-time leading top flight scorer in the English football.  He also played for Aston Villa and Leeds United.  He played twice for South Africa, but was also capped three times for England.  He also played cricket. 

Gordon Hodgson

 

Aaron MokoenST: Gordon Hodgson

Honorable Mention

Patson Banda, Doug Rudham, Itumeleng Khune, Andre Arendse,  Roger De Sá, Brain Baloyi, Moeneeb Josephs, Arthur Lightening, David Nyathi, Mbulelo Mabizela, Matthew Booth, Sizwe Motaung, Anele Ngcongca, Brian Tocknell, Steven Pienaar, John Moshoeu, Sibusiso Zuma, Darius Dhlomo,Mark Tovey, Mark Williams, Geoff Wegerle, Steve Wegerle, Quinton Fortune, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Delron Buckley, Gerry Francis, Shaun Bartlett, Sizwe Motaung, John Moshoeu, Sibusiso Zuma and Steven Pienaar,  Bradley Carnell, Andries Maseko, Noel Cousins,  Nelson "Teenage" Dladla, Phil Masinga, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Katlego Mphela, Abednigo Ngcobo, Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Squad Explanation
-- The original team was created in December, 2014.  I did a review of this team in January, 2023.  South Africa was one of the most difficult team to research.

-- I tried my best to include players from the Apartheid's era, where South Africa was isolated internationally and the players were unknown outside of South Africa.   In 2023, I also spent more time researching players before the 1970's playing in England.   Some of them were well-known in their eras. I found many lists ignored or forgot about those players.  For example,  IFFHS ignored Berry Nieuwenhuys, Albert Johanneson or Arthur Riley for their Best XI team.  

-- In general, associated football  or soccer is more popular among the Blacks, and the White South Africans preferred rugby football. In South Africa, the sport is called "soccer" due to the popularity of rugby football.

-- For Algeria and other African all-time team, I ruled all  players who played for another country before the formation of their national team as eligible. For example, I selected French international Raoul Diagne for Senegal.  Without this rule, if Raoul Diagne was not good enough for France, he would be eligible.  But since he was good enough, he became ineligible.  It actually did not make sense.  However, South Africa's history made it a complex issue.  Unlike the other African countries, South Africa gained independence early.  They played their first international in 1906, but they were expelled from both CAF and the FIFA by the early 1960's. South Africa did not rejoin the international football until the end of the apartheid in the 1990's.  Due to the ban, many South African players never played for South Africa. Some of them had to play for other countries.  Bruce Grobbelaar who was born in South Africa grew up in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and played for them.  Based upon my selection criteria, he should be considered for this team.  Gary Bailey who was born in England probably considered himself South African.  He would return to South Africa after his playing career finished.  Then, I had Craig Johnstone who was an uncapped player.  I relaxed the case of Vassilis Hatzipanagis for Greece because the Greeks thought of him as their greatest ever player.  Raoul Diagne was also regarded as the "grandfather of football" in Senegal. Grobbelaar, Bailey and Johnstone were not in the same "shoes" for South Africa.  They were almost never considered by anyone else for their South African All-Time teams.  Suddenly, each player seemed to have their own story.  It was almost impossible to come up with a single conclusion.  So I would make life easier for myself.  In the end, I decided not to select any player capped by other national teams.  However, I also recognised unofficial South African Colored teams or mixed national team as official caps. r Players who played for those players were recognised as South Africa's capped players.  David Julius was capped by South Africa Colored team before he played for Portugal making him a South African capped player.   Of course, all uncapped South Africa-born players were allowed.  

-- In times, I would create an All South African or South African born all-time team.  In addition to Grobbelaar and Bailey, Eddie Firmani should be undisputed. I could also think of Roy Wegerle, Colin Viljoen and Brian Stein.  

-- The IFFHS selected the following players for their South Africa's Best XI: Patson Banda, Sizwe Motaung, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, David Nyathi, John Moshoeu, Doctor Khumalo, Patrick Ntsoelengoe, Benni McCarthy, Kaizer Motaun and Jomo Sono.

-- South Africa won the 1996 African Cup of Nations.  I have the following players on this all-time team: Neil Tovey, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish and Doctor Khumalo.  A year earlier, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. It was a historical defining moment for the country as portrayed in many media source.  I do think the African Cup of Nations also occupied a special moment for the country not just for football. Mark Williams scored both goals in the final of the 1996 African Cup of Nations after coming on as a substitute. I put him on honourable mention just for that.  

South Africa 1996

-- Jomo Sono, Geoff and Steve Wegerle, etc got to play overseas and become well-known outside South Africa, but many of the players from that era were unknown outside of the country. 

--  Many South African players have played for Liverpool.  In 1924, the South African team played against Liverpool, beating them 5-2.  Soon after, Liverpool signed Arthur Riley.  He was followed by Gordon Hodgson who went on to scored 241 goals in 377 appearances for the Anfield club. Later, Berry Nieuwenhuys captained Liverpool.  He played with Lance Carr and Dirk Kemp in the 1930's.  Harman Van den Berg and Bob Priday also played for them.  Of course, Bruce Grobbelaar and Craig Johnstone were born in South Africa.

-- From 1945 to 1959, 52 South Africans played in England. Of the 52 players, 11 of them played with Charlton Athletic.  After apartheid, they also brought Mark Fish and Shaun Bartlett to the club.

-- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) compiled a list of 200 greatest African footballers of the last 50 years in 2006.  Only three South Africans made the list.   They were Benni McCarthy, Mark Fish and Lucas Radebe.  

Goalkeepers

--  Arthur Riley spent 15 years playing with Liverpool.  He was also one of the first South Africans to play in Europe.  He took over the starting position from Elisha Scott in Liverpool and Elisha Scott was considered one of Liverpool's greatest goalkeepers.  No South African goalkeeper had a similar  distinguished career in one of the major leagues in the world.  Liverpool also had featured Doug Rudham and Dirk Kemp.  Doug Rudham was a starter for them for at least a single season in the 1950's.  Kemp was a backup to Riley.  Bruce Grobbelaar was also born in South Africa, but he played for Rhodesia and Zimbabwe.

Arthur Riley

-- In 2014, I took Banks Setlhodi as a backup.  He was a legend in the domestic game with Kaiser Chiefs.  Meanwhile, his rival Patson Banda was considered as the greatest goalie ever to have played for Orlando Pirates.  In their prime, both goalkeepers were legendary rivals in the Soweto derby.  Setlhodi himself took the penalties against Orlando Pirates, scoring 5 of them.  For some unknown reasons, I ignored Banda in 2014.  In 2022, I discovered that Banda's name was mentioned frequently.  He was on IFFHS's All-Time team as well as on other lists.  Sethodi was also mentioned in many places.  In 2023, I decided to keep Sethodi.

-- For the third goalkeepers, I had a few suitable candidates: Patson Banda, Itumeleng Khune, Hans Vonk and Andre Arendse.

-- Andre Arendse was South Africa's starting goalkeeper before Hans Vonk gained his South African citizenship. He helped them to win the AFCON 1996, but was injured in 1998, which made way for Hans Vonk to start in the World Cup Finals.  In 2002, Andre Arendse started over Hans Vonk at the World Cup Finals, but his blooper against Spain left a bad impression among South Africans.  In 2014, I rewarded Vonk for playing successfully in the Dutch league.  Arendse was put on honourable mention.  In 2022, I felt that both were on par with each other and Arrendse might even have a slight edge.

-- Most contemporary source rated Itumeleng Khune very high.  The FIFA 2021 video game even rated distribution skills as the third in the world behind Manuel Neuer and Ederson.  I don't play video games nor I used them as a reference for my research, but I do think it meant something for Khune.  Nevertheless, the lack of international successes and big tournaments undermined his case.  He also never tested himself in a bigger league outside of South Africa..

-- In the end, I continued with Vonk.  His European experience separated him from the rest of the field.  I admitted it was a close call.

-- Gary Bailey was born in England, but grew up in South Africa.  He was ineligible for this team because he was capped by England at the senior level.  As mentioned above, Bruce Grobbelaar was also born in South Africa.

-- Roger De Sá also represented South Africa in three different sports – soccer, basketball and indoor soccer.  He was a backup on the AFCON 1996 winning team.  In total, he played once for the Bafana Bafana, but I put him on honorable mention for being a multi-sport star.  Brian Baloyi also made honorable mention.  His career was at the same time as Arrendse and Vonk, but also overlaped with Itumeleng Khune. Moeneeb Josephs also made honorable mention.  Arthur Lightening played over 100 games for Coventry between 1959 and 1962 .

Defenders

-- Lucas Radebe was probably the greatest South African player after the end of apartheid. He was also one of the greatest ever defenders from Leeds United.  In 2000, he was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award.  Mark Fish was also a popular player during his time.  His transfer to Lazio gained a lot of media coverage, but it was in England where he played well with Bolten Wanderers and Charlton. The pair also helped South Africa to win the African Cup of Nations in 1996.

Mark Fish

-- Neil Tovey was the captain of South Africa as it won the African Cup of Nations in 1996.  He also holds the record for most appearances in the National Soccer League.  His brother Mark Tovey never got to play international football.  He also never played club football outside South Africa. According to some sources, he was better than Neil.  I took Neil Tovey because he captained South Africa in winning the African Nations Cup in 1996, but I had no space for Mark.

-- The 4th central defender was debatable. Both Simon Lehoko and Aaron Mokoena were on the original 2014 team, but Mokoena was selected as a defensive midfielder.  In 2023, I decided to keep both.

Mbulelo Mabizela and Matthew Booth were also mentioned.

--  Ryder Mofokeng was the captain of Kazier Chiefs for 11 years starting at the age of 23.  The IFFHS selected Sizwe Motaung who was the starting rightback for the 1996 AFCON winning team. He was probably South Africa's best righback since the "Readmission".  Those two were usually named as two of the greatest rightbacks from South Africa.  But instead, I took Eddie Stuart.  He spent 11 seasons with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1950's when they won three league titles as one of Busby Babes' greatest rivals.  He had better exposure outside South Africa, but yet forgotten in South Africa.  He was seldom mentioned as a South African All-Timer. He was a powerful and fast rightback who could play as a centre-half.   I selected Mofokeng as the backup rightback over Motaung.

-- Tsepo Masilela seemed to be South Africa's greatest leftback. 

-- Rodney Kitchin captained South Africa's first multiracial representative team that beat a visiting Argentinian side in 1976. He played for Durban United. His career was unknown outside of South Africa. Because of the Apartheid. Kitchin did not have much exposure outside of South Africa.  In 2014, I selected Rodney Kitchin as one of my leftbacks.  I thought of switching to David Nyathi during the review of the team in 2023.   I also looked into Bradley Carnell.  He had spent over a decade playing in Germany.  I also studied Thabo Matlaba.  Ultimately, I went with a single leftback.

Midfielders/Wingers

-- Since there were not many choices for defensive midfielders, Aaron Mokoena was undisputed.  In Blackburn Rovers, he was used successfully as a midfielder, but for several seasons, he was a backup.

Aaron Mokoena 

-- David Júlio left South Africa for Mozambique to pursue a career in football.  He ended up joining Sporting SP in Portugal.  He earned 4 caps for Portugal between 1960 and 1964 at a time when Portugal was a force to be reckon with.  However, he had played and captained South African colored national team in 1952, a team I recognised as the national team of South Africa.  Thus, he was eligible.  I believed that he was a box-to-box midfielder, a position I badly needed.

-- Colin Viljoen was born in South Africa, but was cap-tied to England.  Coincidently, Viljoen played for Ipswich Town, where goalkeeper Gary Bailey was born.   Bailey was also ineligible due to the fact he played for England.  As by rule, Viljoen was not selected.

-- Berry Nieuwenhuys was probably one of Liverpool's greatest wingers.  How many South Africans could claim to be one of the greatest players from a big European club? Albert Johanneson was one of the first Black players to star in England.  I selected them based upon club careers.

-- Why Craig Johnston? Craig Johnston, despite being South African born, left the country at a young age. While he rejected callups from Scotland and Australia, it remains uncertain if he would have played for South Africa. Although he wasn't considered among South Africa's greatest ever players, similar uncapped South African-born players like Jomo Sono, Berry Nieuwenhuys, and Albert Johanneson were included in various all-time lists. I cannot exclude him while taking others uncapped South African-born players.  However, he is not part of my all-time Australia team due to his decision to turn down the opportunity to play for them. Johnston's position remains unknown for South Africa, only he can provide the answer. He was a key player in European club football in the 1980's.

-- In April, 2020, I came across with left winger Johnny Hubbard, who was the first foreigner to score in the Old Firm and the first African player to compete in the European Cup when he played in 1956 with Rangers versus Nice.  I replaced Nelson "Teenage" Dladla with him.  He was selected for being a pioneer while Dladla never played outside of South Africa.  Many people rated Dladla very high.

-- Nelson "Teenage" Dladla played his entire career with Kaizer Chiefs between 1976 and 1988, where he was a legend.   He played more than 400 matches for them. During his spell at Kaizer Chiefs he wore the legendary number 11. Ewert Nene was killed by a mob while trying to sign Dladka in 1976. Due to Apartheid, he never played international football. 

-- I discovered a right winger Gerry Francis who played for Leeds United between 1959 and 1962.  I put him on honorable mention.

-- Bill Perry was an outside left.  He scored the winning goal in the 1953 FA Cup final. The match was better known as "Matthews Final"  in which Stanley Matthews led Blackpool on to a 4-3 victory over Bolton.  Perry played 394 times for Blackpool, but he was ineligble because he played 3 times for England.  

-- Jomo Sono and Patrick Ntsoelengoe were probably two of the most famous footballers from South Africa because of their careers in the NASL.  Jomo Sono played with Pele in New York.  I don't know how to rate Webster Lichaba and Steve Wegerle.

Jono Somo

-- Doctor Khumalo did not have an overseas career as good as other well-known South Africans, but he was always named among the greatest ever.   

-- Darius Dhlomo was described as an attack midfielder.  He was one of the first Black South Africans to play in Europe.  He joined Heracles Almelo in 1958 where he played with Steve Mokone who was the first black South African to play in the European leagues.  He was also a person with many talents.  He was a champion boxer, a famous jazz singer and a well-known political activist.  But I put him on honorable mentions only.

-- Steven Pienaar had some successes playing in Europe, but I preferred the top players of the yesteryears.  They were more iconic in South African football history.  The same applied to John Moshoeu and Sibusiso Zuma.

-- Mark González was born in Durban, South Africa. His father Raúl was a professional footballer for Durban Bush Bucks, and named him after his friends and fellow footballers Mark Tovey and Dennis Wicks.  He was ineligible because he chose to play for Chile.  He was capped 56 times.

Forwards

-- Gordon Hodgson scored 295 goals in England.  He is the fourth in the all-time list of top-flight goalscorers in English football with only Jimmy Greaves (357), Steve Bloomer (317) and Dixie Dean (310) having scored more goals.  He did play for South Africa before playing for England.  So he is eligible for this team. 

-- After Hodgson, I took Steve Mokone.  He was the first Black South African player to play in Europe.  His career cut across Europe.

-- Of course, there was Benni McCarthy who is probably the most successful South African forward playing in Europe after the end of Apartheid.  He is Bafana Bafana's all-time top-scorer with 32 goals.

-- Kaizer Motaung was well-know because of his days with NASL as well.  In 1970, he founded his own professional soccer team. He named his club "Kaizer Chiefs" after himself and his former NASL team.

Kaizer Motaung

-- Shaun Bartlett should be on the team, but I went for the old-timers. Quinton Fortune was also well-known because of his career with Manchester United.  They were somewhat famous in England, but as compared to Hodgson and McCartney, they were a few steps below. Both only earned honourable mentions.

-- Stuart Leary was elected into the Hall of Fame of Charlton Athletic F.C. He is still considered by many to be one of Charlton’s greatest 

He represented England Under-23 level, but was forbidden by the English FA to play for the senior team due to the fact that he nor his father was born in England.  I did not understand this rule, but since he was not cap-tied to England, he was eligible.  But I could not find a spot for him.

-- Geoff and Steve Wegerle never played for any national team while their younger brother Roy Wegerle played for the United States.  Roy is ineligible and is not included in the squad, but I put Geoff and Steve on honourable mention.

-- In 1955, Eddie Firmani joined Sampdoria for a British record fee of £35,000. He later played for Inter Milan.  He earned 3 caps for Italy.  He later managed NY Cosmos, a team that featured Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto.

-- In 2024, I dropped Phil Masinga and Abednigo Ngcobo.

-- Phil Masinga was capped 58 times.  He was a member of the team that won the 1996 African Cup of Nations and qualified for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.  For his club career, he was successful with Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.  He played in the English Premier League for Leeds United, and Italian Serie A for Salernitana and Bari. He also played for St. Gallen and Al-Wahda.

-- Abednigo Ngcobo started played amateur soccer at a young age for African Bush Rangers, Rand Koreans, Union Jacks. He later joined Zulu Royals and African Wanderers in the new NPSL for blacks in 1971.  He was a star with Kaizer Chiefs between 1972 and 1985. He played in the USA for Denver Dynamos and Minnesota Kicks, and Penarol in Uruguay, but never found the same successes. Due to the Apartheid in South Africa, he never got his chance to play international football.  He only played for South Africa Black XI.

Starting lineup

Formation: 4-2-1-3

 

Shaun BartlettSibusiso ZumaJohn "Shoes" MoshoeuSizwe MotaungQuinton Fortune

Aaron Mokoena