Bafana beat La Roja for the first time last night, with Bernard Parker getting the goal after some great teamwork in the build-up.
It may have been "just a friendly", but the victory has got the nation buzzing this morning.
MATCH REPORT: South Africa 1 Spain 0
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7 July, 1992
South Africa 1 (Khumalo 82 pen)
Cameroon 0
Friendly international
King’s Park Rugby Stadium, Durban
South Africa’s return to international football gets off to a winning start over a star-studded Indomitable Lions touring side, in a rain-sodden match in Durban.
With all 11 players making their debuts, emotions ran high, and Doctor Khumalo sealed a historic win from the penalty spot late on.
Yes, it was only a friendly; and yes, the referee was generous to award the penalty – but who cares, South Africa were back!
Line-up: Mark Anderson – David Nyathi, Lucas Radebe, Steve Komphela, Sam Kambule, Zane Moosa (August Makalakalane 51st), Donald Khuse, Neil Tovey (c), Doctor Khumalo, Fani Madida, Phil Masinga
Coach: Stanley Tshabalala
13 January, 1996
South Africa 3 (P Masinga 14 Williams 37 Moshoeu 55)
Cameroon 0
Africa Cup of Nations finals Group A
Soccer City, Johannesburg
This is the result that set South Africa on the path to the 1998 Nations Cup, and it was a scoreline nobody, absolutely no-one, would have predicted.
Bafana Bafana blew Cameroon away, with Phil Masinga opening the scoring early on. Mark Williams ensured the hosts were comfortable by half-time, and in the second half the imperious John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu crowned a victory that had an entire nation believing.
Line-up: Andre Arendse – Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (c), David Nyathi – Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 58th), John Moshoeu – Mark Williams (Shaun Bartlett 70th), Phil Masinga (August Makalakalane 82nd)
Coach: Clive Barker
3 February, 1996
South Africa 2 (Williams 72 74)
Tunisia 0
Africa Cup of Nations Final
Soccer City, Johannesburg
Three weeks later, a packed Soccer City rocked as as Mark Williams came off the bench to score twice in two minutes against Tunisia.
Bafana always seemed in control of the game but could not really threaten the disciplined Tunisians, until Clive Barker’s super-sub came on.
After just eight minutes on the pitch, ‘Nation Builder’ Williams scored with a towering header after Doctor Khumalo’s free-kick was partially cleared and Sizwe Motaung had chipped the ball back into the mix. Two minutes later, Khumalo slid a pass through the defense and Williams fired past Chokri El-Ouaer to seal the legend of Barker’s Boys and Madiba Magic.
Line-up: Andre Arendse, Sizwe Motaung, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (c), Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 51st), Eric Tinkler, John Moshoeu, Doctor Khumalo, Shaun Bartlett, Phil Masinga (Mark Williams 65th)
Coach: Clive Barker
16 August, 1997
South Africa 1 (P Masinga 14)
Congo 0
World Cup qualifying Group 3
Soccer City, Johannesburg
With the crowd singing ‘Siyaya e France’, Barker’s Boys clinched qualification to their first World Cup, after a 30-yard drive by Phil Masinga.
Masinga had been the victim of Bafana ‘boo-boys’, but he converted every negative into a deafening roar when the ball sat up perfectly for him to send a powerful dipping volley over Congo’s goalkeeper Christian Samba to decide a must-win match.
Line-up: Andre Arendse, Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey, Lucas Radebe capt., Eric Tinkler, John Moshoeu, Doctor Khumalo, Helman Mkhalele (John Moeti 56’), Shaun Bartlett (Mark Williams 60’), Phil Masinga (Brendan Augustine 75’)
Coach: Clive Barker.
22 June, 2010
South Africa (Bongani Khumalo 20, Katlego Mphela 37)
France 1 (Malouda 70)
World Cup Group A
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
After failing to beat Mexico in their opening group match, then flopping badly against Uruguay, the 2010 World Cup hosts had to win by a handsome margin.
But their opponents were a French team in complete disarray after a player rebellion against their coach, Raymond Domenech – and, after goals by Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela put Bafana in a strong position, for a moment it looked like Bafana Bafana were on their way when they had the ball in the net a third time.
But the referee disallowed it (correctly) and in the second half South Africa found the going tougher as Thierry Henry came on to rouse his teammates.
Florent Malouda pulled a goal back and the hosts were out. They could take pride, however, in a fine win over one of the world’s top sides.
Line-up: Moeneeb Josephs – Anele Ngcongca (Siboniso Gaxa 55th), Bongani Khumalo, Aaron Mokoena (C), Tsepo Masilela – Macbeth Sibaya, Steven Pienaar, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni (Teko Modise 78th) – Bernard Parker (Siyabonga Nomvete 68th), Katlego Mphela
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira