Best of Bafana Bafana

SOUTH Africa celebrate 20 years since their first match back in international football this weekend. Our soccer writers select their best of the best from the last 276 Bafana Bafana matches.

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