Mark Gleeson

Best player: Benni McCarthy. There was always an extra buzz around when he was in the mood.

Best goal: In the 1997 World Cup qualifier against Congo at Soccer City when Phil Masinga walloped the ball from long range to book a first-ever World Cup finals place for the team.

Best game: Beating Zambia away in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2006 at the Independence Stadium in Lusaka, where away teams hardly ever won. Aaron Mokoena scored with his only Bafana goal. Pitso Mosimane was coach and Carlos Alberto Parreira had come to see the side for the first time.

Best result: The 1996 Afcon final: South Africa 2, Tunisia 0. The only major trophy win for Bafana must be recognised as the best result for the team.

Best coach: Clive Barker. His personality ensured a camp that was relaxed but confident. His secret was letting the players' personalities come to the fore. It's different today with all these dull and cautious players.

Chumani Bambani

Best player: Doctor Khumalo was one of the country's best midfielders. Remembered for rattling a classy Brazil side in 1996, and scoring Bafana's first goal in 1992.

Best goal: Masinga against Congo in 1997.

Best game: The 1996 Mandela Cup against Brazil. Despite losing 3-2, Bafana showed character.

Best result: Bafana beating Tunisia 2-0 in the 1996 Afcon final.

Best coach: Barker. He guided Bafana to 1996 Afcon glory.

Mazola Molefe

Best player: John "Shoes" Moshoeu. Didn't score many goals, but got critical ones for the national team.

Best goal: Thabo Mngomeni's overhead kick in September 2000 in Bafana's 2-1 Afcon qualifier win over Congo. The goal was voted CAF Goal of the Year in 2001.

Best game: The 1996 Afcon final against Tunisia.

Best result: The 1-0 win over Congo in a World Cup qualifier in 1997.

Best coach: Barker. Did not have the best win-loss ratio but got the best out of the players.

Monwabisi Jimlongo

Best player: Helman Mkhalele who on June 8 1997 destroyed a formidable Zambia in Bafana's 3-0 win in a World Cup qualifier.

Best goal: Masinga's scorcher against Congo.

Best game: They might not have won the game, but the performance against then world champions Brazil at Soccer City in 1996 was exhilarating.

Best result: Beating Ghana 3-0 in the semifinals of the 1996 Afcon.

Best coach: Barker.

Marc Strydom

Best player: Lucas Radebe. He was simply peerless in a Bafana jersey.

Best goal: Katlego Mphela's 35m free-kick in the dying seconds of the 2009 Confederations Cup third-fourth place play-off against Spain to take the game into extra time.

Best game: The 1996 Afcon semifinal when they beat Ghana 3-0.

Best result: The 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal. Although it ended in a 1-0 defeat, it took Brazil until the 97th minute to score.

Best coach: Barker.

Nick Said

Best player: Moshoeu. An excellent footballer, a fine human being and a great servant to his country. He could dictate the flow of the game from midfield and in his prime did not look out of place on any pitch in the world.

Best goal: Siphiwe Tshabalala's strike against Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup.

Best game: The 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal defeat to Spain. Five quality goals, late drama and 120 minutes of football.

Best result: 1996 Afcon final.

Best coach: Barker.

• This is the last of our daily pieces marking the 20th anniversary of the country's readmission to the global game

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Sun May 26 06:12:47 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 6, 2012

Publc2

Ungawokheli lowo mlilo,wawokhel'uzowothela.Hawu madoda,Gone are those days "Ncane Mkhalele"
Can somebody tell me where is Thabo Mngomeni? I was blessed to have watched this guy playing.Same goes to Dr Khumalo,Rhoo Radebe,Mark Fish,Shoes Moshoeu,the late Sizwe Motaung,John Moeti and Jerry Sikhosana
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Jul 6, 2012

shakashaka

For me Mdokies will always be the best player ever I have watched playing football in Mzantsi. I dont know who is to blame for Steve Motsiri not having reached the potential he showed in football. He had everything to be the best that SA has produced.
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Jul 6, 2012

nsukuangel

Best player: I have to give it to Benni Again he might have had his troubles, but he is the best thing to have happened to SA soccer ever...thats how I see it....

Best goal: Benni MaCarthy, SAs first soccer world cup goal against the then best goalie in the world

Best game: 2012 world cup SA beating France the former world champions

Best result: 1996 Afcon final.

Best coach: Barker
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Jul 6, 2012

GarethCliff56

Give Barker coaching Job again.
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Jul 6, 2012

Bucs4life

Best player: Lucas Radebe,Dr Khumalo, Chippa Masinga, Helman Mkhalele, Benni, Arendse, Sizwe Motaunng, Neil Tovey, Fish

Best goal: Benni McCarthy's extra time winner against DRC in 1998 Afcon semifinal.

Best game: 1996 3-0 win over Ghana, Afcon semifinal

Best result: 1996 Afcon final

Best coach:No contest: Clive Barker


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Jul 6, 2012

Bucs4life

FINAL SELECTION: Best Player: Captain Fantastic LUCAS RADEBE
Proved his mantle in these two titanic clashes: 1996 AFCON semifinal against Ghana, fresh from injury, he made his then Leeds United hotshot striker, Tony Yeboah look ordinary. 2002 World Cup finals in Korea/Japan 2-3 loss to Spain, What an inspirational perfomance, he even scored with a fantastic header.
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Jul 6, 2012

Papage

That is South Africa for you, celebrating midiocry, how much are you spending on celebrating more losses than wins?
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Jul 6, 2012

batistuta

@publc thabo mngomeni z stayin in Langa @his parents house d last i saw him he wz driving 1976 vw beetle n a coach of Chippa utd after Chippa bought Mbekweni cosmos status from Castle he wz their 1st coach dat wz in 2008 n i havent seen him since. Back 2d topic ma best players shoes,khumalo,sizwe motaung,mkhalele,rhoo,mkuku tovey n mcarthy. Best game when we defeated ghana 3-0 n 1-1 against argentina in fnb 1995, argentina had 2score wit an penalty after williams played great one twos with 16v. Best goals Masinga 97 vs congo also bartlett vs ghana best coach of course the dog himself clive barker
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Jul 6, 2012

Blackthought

No brainer here...people must just stop trying so hard to have a different opinion. Sometimes it's ok to agree with others:

Best player: Doc Khumalo by far....don't believe the hype around avrerage players who have played off shore.

Best goal: Phil Masinga...the whole nation thought we had a better tomorrow.

Best game: Agree with Jimlong....3-0 against Ghana. Our Bafana were on fire!!!! They showed Black Stars no respect at all. Doc even got a yellow for standing on top of the ball like Jomo in his prime.

Best result: 1996 Afcon final.

Best coach: Barker
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Jul 6, 2012

Tango

Doctor = greatest of all time
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