In our exciting feature, "How I Became A Goalkeeper," KickOff speaks with former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, Gregory Mabena.
Mabena predicts a very bleak future for South African-born goalkeepers.
"I used to be an outfield player in my kasi, Vosloorus.
"Our goalkeeper was a coward. Once, during a match, a ball burst and was cut by a piece of glass. It was replaced with a basketball. There was a guy in the opposition team with a powerful shot. Our goalkeeper left in the middle of the game, saying, 'No more! I can't take this anymore.'
"He couldn't endure the powerful shots.
"Remember those days when township teams had no reserve goalkeepers, so I had to step in.
"I performed well in goal that day, and many people were impressed with my efforts. From that day onwards, I became our team's goalkeeper."
"Everyone aspired to be like Brian Baloyi. I admired his diving and reflexes.
"Although both he and Rowen Fernandez were excellent goalkeepers, their mobility was not the same."
"The person I used to follow closely abroad has just retired, and that's Gianluigi Buffon, the Italy and Juventus legend.
"I admired his patience and the way he commanded his defense. It wasn't easy to score against him.
"Here at home, we have a significant problem with goalkeepers; we lack them.
"As time goes on, our national team Bafana Bafana will struggle to find goalkeepers.
"The problem is that clubs take boys from developments, sign them for their DStv Diski Challenge teams, and from there, they offer them first-team contracts. But then, they forget about them; they don't believe in them. Instead, they sign foreign goalkeepers from countries like Ghana, Cameroon, and even Rwanda, neglecting their own products.
"In other words, we are developing goalkeepers for other countries, and they come back to beat our national team, Bafana Bafana. It recently happened against Rwanda.
"If you look closely, at the moment, we only have Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, Veli Mothwa... and then who else?
"We do have talent in the development ranks, but they are not given enough opportunities at the top level.
"Bruce Bvuma is currently not playing at Kaizer Chiefs. How many South African-born goalkeepers are currently playing in the PSL? I think there are three or four."