South African Football GOAT Talk

South African football GOAT talk is not something football fans talk about often, despite having groomed the most talented players over the years and generations in South African football. The term “GOAT” made popular in football in comparison to the two world’s best players of our time, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

GOAT talk in football consists of different factors, how the player changes people’s perception of the game, the stats and accolades, his/ her influence in the game, and more. For over 10 years fans around the world have been divided regarding this toping because of Messi and Ronaldo.

Here we take time to appreciate South African players from different generations who have influenced the game to earn the GOAT status.

Jomo Sono

Nicknamed the black prince of South African football, Jomo Sono’s football skills were second to none in his heydays. His introduction to football could be seen as coincidental, but yet a destiny as it is proven by his contribution to South African football.

Showboating should be named after Mjomana, he’s the first player to stand on the ball and none of the opposition side players would come to mark the ball. This is the man who played with the late Pele at New York Cosmos, one of the greatest players to ever play in football history.

Doctor Khumalo

16V at some point was the most famous celebrity in South Africa after Nelson Mandela, which is why he is still relevant to this day. His skill on the field was marvelous to watch, Probably few players played against Doctor Khumalo who never got a Shibobo. The influence he had was unbelievable, he always had a plan and could produce magic at any moment to win the game. The late Clive Barker apologised to him for taking him off in a match against Brazil, Bafana Bafana went on to lose the game 3-2.

Benni McCarthy

Benni McCarthy’s football career stats and accolades are world-class, he has put South African football on a pedestal. Benni retired over 10 years ago from international football, but he remains the top goal scorer for Bafana Bafana. The Hanover Park-born is the only player in South Africa to win the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004.

Teko Modise

Teko Tsholofelo Modise was the best player of this generation to ever play in South Africa. Many if not everyone believe Teko is the benchmark of what a complete playmaker should be. Winning the Player of the Year twice in a row, something that has never been done before, the general have won every individual award in South African football including the Sportsman of the Year award. On his book launch, Jomo Sono admitted he could have handed his Orlando Pirates number 10 jersey to Teko Modise if he was approached by the club.

The Soweto-born’s influence goes beyond the 4 lines on the pitch. Before the 2010 World Cup, he had a Mohawk, and everyone started to cut a Mahawk, the youngsters in townships used to call it a “Teko Modise Cut”.

Siphamandla Lindwa

Siphamandla Lindwa is a sports writer and a publisher for Bet Central at Bet.co.za. He obtained a B-Tech in Sports Management from Tshwane University of Technology. When not writing sports content, Sipha scouts talent and networks for his future Sports Management agency.