Bafana
Bafana coach Gordon Igesund doesn't want to reveal his starting XI but during
the Africa Cup of Nations 1996, the starting XI was also obvious prior to the
tournament. Who still remember this team? 1996 Bafana Bafana team was a special
team that won the hearts of many Mzansi soccer fans.
1.
Andre Arendse
2.
Sizwe "sechaba" Motaung (RIP)
3.
David "Going Up" Nyathi
4.
Mark "Feeesh" Fish
5.
Neil "Mkhukhu" or "Codesa" Tovey
6.
Doctor "16 Valve" Khumalo
7.
Linda "Mercedes Benz" Buthelezi
8.
Erick "Umlungu" Tinkler
9.
John "Shoes" Mosheou
10.
Shaun "Sean B" Bartlett
11.
Phil "Chippa" Masinga
Even
the great Leeds United Captain Lucas
"Rhoo" Radebe and also the 1995 African Championship winning captain
with Orlando Pirates Edward "Magents" Motale failed to break into the
AFCON team in 1996.
Radebe
managed to get a run against Ghana in the semi-final when he marked his teammate
at Leeds United Tony Yeboah off the game. The combo of Tovey and Fish was
simple the best alongside the best offensive two left and right back ever
produced in South Africa David Nyathi
and Motaung.
The
late Motaung and Nyathi were simple the best and even managed to get big
contacts in Spanish La Liga and Serie A in Italy. Motaung even once bottled and belittles the Brazilian
superstar Ronaldo of Barcelona when he was playing for Tennerife in Spanish La
Liga.
The
midfield had two best creative players of Shoes and Khumalo. Khumalo was famous
for defence splitting passes whilst Shoes was known for his goal-scoring
ability. The engine room was controlled by hardworking Innocent Buthelezi
alongside Portugal based player Tinkler. The pair was famous for doing dirty
job of winning balls with heartless tackles – when either Khumalo or Shoes gets
tired, Mkhelele or Zane "Magic Feet" Moosa were ready to take over in
style.
Upfront
we had Chippa partnering either Bartlett or Mark
Williams. The trio had the best scoring techniques. The Mamelodi Sundowns
goal-poacher Daniel "Mambush" Mudau was an understudy of the trio at
Africa Cup of Nations 1996.
The
head coach was Clive Barker who was good in motivating the boys. He treated all
the boys like his real sons. He got the best out of his boys.
The
Madiba Magic from the state President
Honorable Dr. Nelson Mandela and undivided support of rainbow nation soccer
fans inspire the boys to conquer Africa.
This
narrative sounds like a yesterday story but the story happened 17 years ago
when I was still too young to write about soccer.
By Owen Mundalamo
