South Africa's Finest 23 To Face Soccer Giants
Goalkeepers |
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Itumeleng Khune
Born: 20 06 1987
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Khune is one of the biggest goalkeeping talents South African football has produced in recent times. The young Bafana Bafana number one is a fantastic shot-stopper and is excellent at starting quick attacks with his distribution. His younger brother Lucky Khune plays as a striker for Kaizer Chiefs. |
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Moeneeb Josephs
Born: 19 05 1980
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Josephs is a highly-rated goalkeeper in South Africa. His ability to kick with both feet, play as a sweeper and distribute the ball comfortably are some of his traits |
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Shu-aib Walters
Born: 26 12 1981
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The Cape Town born goalkeeper had a decent 2008/09 campaign with Bloemfontein Celtic, though injuries prevented him from getting as much playing time as he was probably hoping for. Walters could go on to be terrific keeper for his club and country |
Defenders |
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Siboniso Gaxa
Born: 06 04 1984
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Gaxa attended the University of Port Elizabeth, which at that time had a football team controlled by Danish side F.C. Copenhagen. In 2002, he moved to SuperSport United, where he stayed for six seasons, before he in 2008 transferred to Mamelodi Sundowns. |
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Calvin Anele Ngcongca
Born: 20 10 1987
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Gaxa attended the University of Port Elizabeth, which at that time had a football team controlled by Danish side F.C. Copenhagen. In 2002, he moved to SuperSport United, where he stayed for six seasons, before he in 2008 transferred to Mamelodi Sundowns. |
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Aaron Tebomo Mokoena
Born: 25 11 1980
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Mokoena made his Blackburn debut on 8 January 2005, against Cardiff City in the FA Cup as a 43rd minute substitute for Barry Ferguson and went on to be a regular in the starting line-up for the remainder of the season, appearing 22 times in total. He was used by Blackburn manager Mark Hughes as part of a three-man midfield in a defensive 4–5–1 formation, a move which saw Blackburn concede fewer goals and move away from relegation danger |
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Matthew Booth
Born: 14 03 1977
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Matthew's Dad, Paul, was a keen amateur footballer, playing for Fish Hoek AFC, and Matthew followed in his footsteps, turning out for the side at junior level.Spotted in the early 90s by Cape Town Spurs, Matthew joined the junior Spurs side in 1994, after being spotted at the annual Bayhill Tournament by Richard Gomes.In 1995, he was training with the Spurs' senior team, under Mich d'Avray, which went on to with the league and BobSave Super Bowl 'double', though never made his break into the first team squad. |
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Bongani Khumalo
Born: 06 02 1987
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Khumalo has been a member of the Bafana team for a while and has played his 10th cap when SA crushed Guatemala 5-0 IN A international friendly at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo. Last Thursday, Khumalo won the man of the match award (plus a R10, 000 cheque that will be donated to a charity of his choice) in another Bafana victory (2-1) against Colombia at the Soccer City. |
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Siyabonga Sangweni
Born: 29 08 1981
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Siyabonga Sangweni is a centre back who currently plays for Golden Arrows. Sangweni began his professional career with his current club and has made 104 appearances for them. He has made nine international appearances for Bafana Bafana. The defender is good in the air and is an excellent man marker. He is comfortable with both feet and a great timer of the ball. |
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Tshepo Masilela
Born: 05 05 1985
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Tshepo Masilela was discovered by former Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru. Such was his meteoric rise he made his full international debut before he had even signed a professional contract, a first in South African football. In the same vein, after only one season in top-flight football in his homeland, he made the move to Israeli club Maccabi Haifa. Masilela was a crucial part of Maccabi Haifa winning the Israeli Championship, and qualifing to the UEFA Champions League. |
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Lucas Thwala
Born: 19 10 1981
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Following a fine season in the 2005/06 that saw him receive the club's ‘Most Improved Player of the Year’ award after helping Orlando Pirates finish as PSL runners-up twice in a row, the tough-as-snail left back who also does a clean job in central defense, finally stamped his authority in the Bucs starting line-up and his efforts were rewarded when his teammates chose him as their 'Player of the Season' at the end of the 2006/07. |
Midfielders |
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Teko Tsholofelo Modise
Born: 22 12 1982
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Modise first played for the South African team during the 2007 COSAFA Cup. He made his first appearance with the senior team on May 26, 2007 against Malawi. He was named to the S.A. roster for the 2008 African Nations Cup tournament in Ghana. He is also known as Jonas Andersen. He has currently played 33 games with the senior team and has recorded nine goals. Modise has been an instrumental player in many of Bafana Bafana's international matches. In 2008 he was nominated as the best African player during the season. |
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Lance Davids
Born: 11 04 1985
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David came to Djurgårdens IF from TSV 1860 München in Germany at the start of the 2006 season, but had a tough time establishing himself as a regular starter in the beginning of the season. However, as the season went on, Davids became a more and more regular name in the Djurgården starting line-up. During the 2007 season, Davids played on the right wing as a midfielder or as a defender. |
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Reneilwe Letsholonyane
Born: 09 06 1982
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Reneilwe Letsholonyane is a South African football (soccer) midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs and South Africa. He will be joining the Bafana Bafana squad in the Fifa 2010 soccer World Cup. . |
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MacBeth Sibaya
Born: 25 11 1977
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One of South Africa's elder statesmen, McBeth Sibaya made his debut for Bafana Bafana eight years ago in a FIFA World Cup™ qualifier against Malawi. |
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Thanduyise Khuboni
Born: 22 05 1986
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Thanduyise Khuboni is a professional South African soccer player. He made his PSL debut for the club in the 2006/07 season after transferring from lower league side Mabopane Young Masters. On 12 May 2010, Khuboni was named in the preliminary 30 man South African squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. |
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Kagisho Evidence Dekgacoi
Born: 24 11 1984
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Dikgacoi made his international debut on 27 May 2007, in a COSAFA Cup match against Mauritius. He scored his first two goals on 7 June 2008, in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea, which ended 4–0. He was part of Bafana Bafana's 2008 African Nations Cup squad and was also a participant at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. |
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Steven Pienaar
Born: 17 03 1982
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Pienaar joined English club Everton on loan for 2007–08 and later signed a three-year contract from Dortmund.He made his Premier League debut for Everton in the latter stages of the 2–1 home victory against Wigan Athletic. He scored his first Everton goal in the 2–0 home victory over Middlesbrough in September 2007.On 4 May 2010, Steven received recognition for his efforts in the form of an award for Everton's Player of the Season, which he said he was "really honoured" to receive |
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Siphiwe Tshabalala
Born: 25 07 1984
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Chiefs bought back their own product and Tshabalala was used as the team’s first-choice left-wing. During the 2008/9 pre-season, coach Muhsin Ertugral began to occasionally employ the left-footer in the centre of the midfield. He made his national team debut in a friendly against Egypt on January 14, 2006.Tshabalala was part of the South African squad at 2006 African Nations Cup, 2008 African Nations Cup and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.He has so far been capped 48 times scoring six goals. |
Strikers |
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Surprise Mohlomoleng Moriri
Born: 20 03 1980
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Moriri is a free-scoring midfielder who was chosen as South Africa’s PSL Player of the Season in 2005–06. He scored 12 goals in all competitions (11 in the league) to be Sundowns’ top scorerMoriri made his debut in a friendly against Lesotho on 8 October 2003.He scored his first goal for South Africa in their 3–0 win over Chad in the MTN Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.He was in the South African squad for the 2008 African Nations Cup. |
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Bernard Melvin Parker
Born: 16 03 1986
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Bernard Parker was born and grew up in Reiger Park, a township next to Boksburg. A product of the School of Excellence, Parker made his debut in the professional ranks for Benoni Premier United. He remained in Durban with Thanda until early 2009 when he obtained a transfer to former World and European Cup Winners Red Star in Serbia. On 17 June 2009, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win over New Zealand in the 2009 Confederations Cup,and also received the Man of the Match award. |
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Katlego Mphela
Born: 29 11 1984
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Mphela, a product of Jomo Cosmos, played in France for RC Strasbourg and Stade Reims, both with limited success. After returning home he turned out for Super-sport United and Mamelodi Sundowns. He finished the 2009-10 season with 17 goals in 30 games which made him the league's top goalscorer. He was subsequently voted Player of the Season. Mphela scored a brace on his international debut against Mauritius on February 26, 2005. |
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Siyabonga Eugene Nomvethe
Born: 02 12 1977
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Nomvethe first played in 1999 and became a first team player from 2001–2007 where he played in 2002 FIFA World Cup and scoring against Slovenia and he also participated at The 2005 Gold Cup & 2006 African Cup Of Nations until he lost his place and he was not picked for 2008 Africa Cup Of Nations neither 2009 Confederations Cup under Joel Santana in South Africa.But in April 2010 he got picked to play against Korea DPR national football team and Jamaica national football team.
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