Given Bafana Bafana’s current malaise, perhaps the best therapy is a stroll down memory lane. Twenty years ago to this day, on July 7, 1992, South Africa played their first international match since re-admission to international football.
Coached by Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala, Bafana took on Cameroon in a friendly at King’s Park in Durban. The Indomitable Lions had just two years earlier become the first African side to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
But Bafana overcame the odds, taking down a side containing legend Roger Milla, courtesy of a Doctor Khumalo penalty in the 82nd minute.
It was a game that will live long in the memory of all who took part, including captain Neil Tovey, who earned the first of his 52 caps that day.
“It was the significance of that game, and having the pri-vilege to captain my country into re-admission, I can’t forget,” said Tovey.
“Cameroon came out of the aura of the previous World Cup and how well they had done. To beat them in our first game having no experience of international football was a very exciting day for the people of and for the football of this country.”
Current Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela was in central defence on that day and can distinctly remember just how powerful the Cameroon side looked.
“To think that we went into that match with no background, and as a result we had no fear,” said Komphela.
“What struck me immediately when I saw those guys (Cameroon) was their phy-sique. They were huge and compelling.
“One simply could not ima-gine how on earth such big monsters could run at the pace they did, even in the World Cup in Italy.”
Tovey had no doubt that Khumalo, one of South Africa’s best yet attacking midfielders, was the right man to take the spot-kick when Bafana got the chance to grab the game eight minutes from time.
“Doctor was the one player who could step up on the big occasion and do something like that,” recalls Tovey.
Komphela, meanwhile, was close to tears as Khumalo sent South Africa into ecstasy.
“It was unbelievable as we walked down the tunnel (before the game) to a crowd of ululating supporters,” said Komphela.
“But what killed me was when it started drizzling and Doctor scored. The crowd started singing ‘Shosholoza’ and I got so emotional I almost cried.”
Bafana went on to lose the second game of a three-match series against Cameroon 2-1 in Cape Town, and finishing off a highly respectable baptism of fire with a 2-2 draw in Johannesburg.
What followed was a bit of a reality check as the side failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, and in what became known as the 4x4 era, were thrashed by the likes of Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Mexico.
Komphela, however, is nostalgic about the support the team received back then as opposed to today’s high level of criticism.
“It has changed a bit,” he said.
“Back then, for lack of too much knowledge, we supported one another. Today we have the privilege of too much knowledge. We feel our opinion can change what those on the field are trying to do.
“Support has receded and been accompanied by too much opinion. Back then, even though I came from Free State Stars, a small team from the mountains, people acknow-ledged me. Even Doctor Khumalo was appreciated by Pirates fans, and Teboho Moloi was appreciated by Chiefs fans. Things have changed – sometimes people have malicious opinions.
“Then we were supported unconditionally – now it is conditional. I remember going to Zimbabwe and Mexico and at no stage then did people speak of 4x4s. But today we are reminded of 4x4s. I think if the current commentators had been there back then, we wouldn’t have survived!”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Mark Anderson
Bafana’s goalkeeper on the day earned just seven international caps in all, but enjoyed an illustrious career between the posts for Mamelodi Sundowns. Most recently, he was goalkeeper coach at the Brazilians, but left when Johan Neeskens took over in 2011.
David Nyathi
Right-back Nyathi went on to have a tremendous international career, earning 45 caps for his country and helping them to the African Nations Cup title in 1996. David was also part of Bafana’s first World Cup finals squad at France ’98. Nyathi’s club career saw him play in South Africa, for Kaizer Chiefs, as well as in Spain, Switzerland, Italy and Turkey. Nyathi is now coach of Ajax Cape Town’s junior side.
Lucas Radebe
Radebe was already at Leeds United in England when he made his Bafana debut and he went on to have a most distinguished career for club and country, earning a total of 70 caps for Bafana and captaining the side at the 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals. Rhoo retired in 2005 and has been linked to a role with Bafana Bafana under new coach Gordon Igesund.
Steve Komphela
Komphela was with Kaizer Chiefs when he got his Bafana call-up, and went on spend the latter part of his club career in Turkey, with Gaziantepspor and Canakkale Dardanelspor. A natural leader, who also captained Bafana, he went into coaching and most recently turned down the job of South African Football Association technical director to stay at the helm of Free State Stars.
Sam Kambule
The Bafana left-back against Cameroon, Kambule made just nine appearances for his country, but was a mainstay during a lengthy spell at Mamelodi Sundowns, who he signed for in 1986. Passed away suddenly in 2006. At the time of his death, he was a prison warder at Pretoria Maximum Security prison.
Zane Moosa
A talented midfielder, Moosa’s only international start for Bafana came in the opening game against Cameroon, though he also made four more appearances as a late substitute between 1995 and 1996. Moosa is now a television pundit with SuperSport.
Donald Khuse
Khuse went on to make 16 appearances in total for Bafana, moving from Kaizer Chiefs in 1993 to join Turkish side Genclerbirligi. Khuse took over with Doctor Khumalo in a caretaker coaching capacity when Vladimir Vermezovic left Chiefs last season. They will now assist Stuart Baxter in the new campaign.
Neil Tovey
Tovey went on to make 52 appearances for his country, all as a starter, captaining them in their opening match, as well as being the man to lift the African Nations Cup trophy in 1996. Tovey began his international career as a central midfielder before moving into the middle of the back four. Tovey moved into coaching, managing Sundowns, AmaZulu, Hellenic, Mpumalanga Black Aces and, most recently, Thanda Royal Zulu, who just failed to gain promotion to the PSL.
Doctor Khumalo
Possibly the best attacking midfielder of his generation, Khumalo, who scored the winning penalty against Cameroon, made a total of 50 appearances for Bafana and was a key member of the side that lifted the 1996 Nations Cup. Khumalo spent much of his playing career at Kaizer Chiefs, where he is now an assistant coach, combining the role with that of a SuperSport pundit.
Fani Madida
Striker Madida went on to make just 11 appearances for Bafana Bafana, but did enjoy a superb club career with Kaizer Chiefs, and in Turkey between 1992 and 1998, before returning to South Africa with Hellenic. Madida was an assistant coach at Kaizer Chiefs alongside Muhsin Ertugral, and is now the assistant to Roger Palmgren at AmaZulu.
Phil Masinga
Masinga went on to make 58 appearances for his country, scoring 18 times, most famously netting the winning goal against Congo-Brazzaville in 1997 that took Bafana to their first ever World Cup finals. Phil also enjoyed a superb playing career in Europe, particularly with Bari in Italy from 1997-2001. Masinga was also an ambassador for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has his own soccer academy here, but recent reports suggest he has hit hard times financially.
Augustine Makalakalane
Makalakalane was the only subs-titute in the Cameroon game, rep-lacing Moosa after 51 minutes, and went on to play 14 times for Bafana, spending much of his club career in Switzerland. Makalakalane coached the national women’s team, Banyana Banyana, but left after failing to get the team to the 2011 Women’s World Cup and is now the coach at North West University’s Soccer Institute. – Saturday Star