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Bafana Bafana: class of 2010

Brad Morgan

11 June 2010

The 2010 Fifa World Cup is taking place in South Africa – so no doubt you've heard of Bafana Bafana, as our national football team is known. But how well do you know the players? Check out our quick profiles of the 23 players who carry the hopes of 49-million people.

We've ordered them according to the number they'll be wearing on their jerseys during the World Cup.

Moeneeb Josephs (1)

Moeneeb Josephs is South Africa's second-choice goalkeeper. He began his professional career in 1997 with Cape Town Spurs and has also played for Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits, and Orlando Pirates.

Josephs helped Pirates concede the least goals in South Africa's Premier Soccer League in the 2009/10 season and was named the Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season.

He made his debut for Bafana Bafana on 19 July 2003 against Zimbabwe, in a 1-0 loss, and has played in 17 internationals, including as South Africa's first choice in goal for the 2008 African Cup of Nations. He wears the number 1 jersey.

Siboniso Gaxa (2)

Siboniso Gaxa is a right back who plys his trade for PSL club Mamelodi Sundowns. In 2008, he was bought by South Africa's richest club from SuperSport United whom he represented from 2002, which was when he made his professional debut.

He excelled for Bafana Bafana in the 2009 Confederations Cup, playing in all five matches, as the home team claimed fourth place.

On the international front, he is an experienced campaigner, having made his debut against Cape Verde on 4 June, 2005 in a 2-1 victory. He had played 37 internationals before the start of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Gaxa wears the number 2 jersey.

Tsepo Masilela (3)

Tsepo Masilela plays at left-back and turns out for top Israeli club Maccabi Haifa. He joined the club in 2007, having previously been on the books of Benoni Premier United, which then became Thanda Royal Zulu.

Incredibly, Masilela made his full international debut before he had signed a professional contract.

He has been a regular in the Bafana Bafana line-up for some time now, having played in all three of South Africa's 2008 African Cup of Nations games and started all the team's 2009 Confederations Cup matches.

He has 31 caps to his name and made his debut on 30 January 2006 against Zambia in a 1-0 defeat. His jersey number is 3.

Aaron Mokoena (4)

Captain Aaron Mokoena is South Africa's most capped footballer ever, with 101 internationals to his name. He is currently with English club Portsmouth.

His professional career began in 1999 with Ajax Amsterdam. He then played two seasons for Germinal Beerschot on loan before moving to Genk. From there, he transferred to Blackburn Rovers and then to Portsmouth.

He made his international debut on 20 February 1999, as an 18-year-old, in a 2-1 win over Botswana and first captained South Africa on 3 July 2004 in a 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso.

He wears the number 4 jersey and has scored only one goal for Bafana Bafana.

Anele Ngcongca (5)

Anele Ngcongca is just 22 years of age. He plays for Belgian club FC Genk, which he joined in 2007 after having previously played for FC Fortune, which became known as Western Province United. That meant he headed abroad before ever having played in the top flight in South Africa.

Not much was known about Ngcongca when he was selected by former Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana. Yet his selection has proved to be an astute one, with the defender earning a place in South Africa's World Cup squad.

He made his international debut on 14 November 2009 in a 0-0 draw against Japan in Port Elizabeth and has played five times for Bafana Bafana. He will wear jersey number 5 in the World Cup.

MacBeth Sibaya (6)

Midfielder MacBeth Sibaya has been with Russian club Rubin Kazan since 2003. Before that he played for Norwegian side Rosenborg, Hungary's Kerulet and South African club Jomo Cosmos.

He is easy to spot as he has dreadlocks. With 58 caps to his name, he is also one of South Africa's more experienced players and played in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Sibaya made his debut for Bafana Bafana on 21 February 2001 in a 2-1 victory over Malawi. He was a starter in all of South Africa's matches in the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, but missed the semi-final clash against Brazil because of suspension.

He plays in jersey number 6.

Lance Davids (7)

Lance Davids was discovered by former Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter at the age of 18. He was with Cape Town club Hellenic, but his professional career began with German side 1860 Munich. He went on to play for Sweden's Djurgården, SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town, his current team.

He is likely to be a back-up in a midfield in which competition has become very tough. Davids returned from Europe to play football in South Africa in the hope of earning a place in the Bafana Bafana team for a World Cup on home soil.

He made his debut for South Africa on 30 March 2004 against Australia in a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road, London. Davids has played in 22 internationals and wears jersey number 7.

Siphiwe Tshabalala (8)

Siphiwe Tshabalala plays on the left of midfield and is a member of South Africa's most popular club Kaizer Chiefs. Before joining Chiefs, he played for Alexandra United and Free State Stars.

Dreadlocked and with an educated left-boot, Tshabalala is an industrious presence in the Bafana Bafana engine room. He is also a dangerous striker of the ball from set pieces.

He made his first appearance for South Africa on 14 January 2006 against Egypt in a 2-1 win. Tshabalala has 48 caps to his credit and has scored six goals. He plays in the number 8 jersey.

Katlego Mphela (9)

Mamelodi Sundowns' striker Katlego Mphela was the top scorer in the PSL this past season and was named the Absa Premiership Players Player of the Season. Before joining the Brazilians, he played for SuperSport United and helped United to the PSL title. He has also played for Jomo Cosmos and French clubs Strasbourg and Stade Reims.

He is a physical presence up front and capable of holding up the ball as attacks mount. Mphela made his name known internationally in 2009 when in the Fifa Confederations Cup he scored a brilliant free kick against Spain which was nominated as one of Fifa's goals of the year.

He was also an instant hit in his first international, netting twice inside the first 20 minutes in a 3-0 victory over the Seychelles. He has played 31 matches for Bafana Bafana and scored 13 times. Mphela is in the strikers' favourite jersey: number 9.

Steven Pienaar (10)

Steven Pienaar plays for English Premier League club Everton and is regarded by many as South Africa's best footballer. The 28-year-old has also played for Ajax Cape Town, Ajax Amsterdam, and Borussia Dortmund in his career.

Pienaar was named Everton's Player of the Season, but for anyone who watched the 2009 Confederations Cup his class would have been clear already. He is an inventive presence in the midfield and a hard worker. Many big name European clubs are known to be interested in acquiring his services.

Since making his debut on 23 May 2002 against Turkey in a match won 2-0 by South Africa, he has won 50 caps for Bafana Bafana. Pienaar wears the iconic jersey number 10 and will undoubtedly be a prominent performer in the World Cup.

Teko Modise (11)

Teko Modise plays for popular South African club Orlando Pirates. He began his professional career with Ria Stars in 2001 and subsequently played for City Pillars from 2002 until 2006. He then joined SuperSport United before moving on to the Buccaneers in 2007.

He is an innovative passer in the midfield, but also a goalscoring threat. Modise possesses a surprisingly powerful shot and likes to shoot from distance.

He has captained Bafana Bafana on occasion and has played 52 internationals, finding the back of the net 10 times. He made his debut against Malawi on 26 May 2007 in the Cosafa Cup, with South Africa edging the contest 5-4 from the penalty spot in Mbabane, Swaziland.

Modise plays in jersey number 11.

Reneilwe Letsholonyane (12)

Reneilwe Letsholonyane plies his trade for South African PSL club Kaizer Chiefs in their midfield. He turned out for a number of teams before joining the Amakhosi, namely Hellenic, Dangerous Darkies, PJ Stars, and Jomo Cosmos.

He made a very positive impression in the lead-up to the World Cup and claimed a place in Carlos Alberto Parreria's first choice line-up with a series of imposing displays.

Letsholonyane made his Bafana Bafana debut on 30 September 2008 in 5-4 win from the penalty spot over Malawi. He has made 13 appearances for South Africa and scored his only goal so far in a record 5-0 thrashing of Guatemala in May 2010. He plays in the number 12 jersey.

Kagisho Dikgacoi (13)

Kagisho Dikgacoi is with Fulham in the English Premier League. Before transferring to the Cottagers in 2009, he played for Golden Arrows and Bloemfontein Young Tigers.

He is a hard-working defensive midfielder who usually plays just in front of the back four. He is renowned for his strength and ball-winning tackling.

Dikgacoi made his first appearance for Bafana Bafana on 26 May 2007 in the same match in which Teko Modise debuted, a 5-4 victory from the penalty spot over Malawi. He has played 37 times for South Africa and scored two goals, both in the same game against Equatorial Guinea, which finished in a 4-1 victory.

His jersey number is 13.

Matthew Booth (14)

Matthew Booth is a hard-to-miss central defender, standing 1.98 metres (6ft 6 in) tall. Aged 33, he began his professional career way back in 1994 with Cape Town Spurs. He has had two spells with Mamelodi Sundowns, his current club, and has also turned out for Wimbledon in England, and Russian sides FC Rostov and Krylya Sovetov.

South African crowds love him, but visiting fans might think he is hated. That is because the fans shout his name when he is in possession: "Boooooooth" resembles the booing of a player, but make no mistake, he is popular.

Booth made his Bafana Bafana debut on 20 February 1999, the same match in which Aaron Mokoena played his first international. South Africa beat Botswana 2-1 that day.

He has 27 caps to his name, has scored one goal, and plays in jersey number 14.

Lucas Thwala (15)

Lucas Thwala plays for PSL club Orlando Pirates, with whom he has been since 2004. Viewed mostly as a back-up, Thwala provides depth on the flanks at the back.

He likes to get forward, which results in him finding his way onto the scoresheet from time to time.

Thwala made his debut for Bafana Bafana on 26 February 2005 in a 3-0 victory over the Seychelles, a game in which fellow 2010 World Cup selection Katlego Mphela netted a brace. He has played in 24 internationals in total and scored one goal. He wears the number 15 jersey.

Itumeleng Khune (16)

Itumeleng Khune, at the age of only 22, is South Africa's first choice goalkeeper. He began his professional career with Kaizer Chiefs in 2004 and has remained with the Amakhosi ever since.

Khune's younger brother Lucky is also with Chiefs and is a striker. Itumeleng Khune was a defender in his younger days, but when an eagle-eyed coach spotted him diving about and stopping balls he was converted to goalkeeper, which proved to be a brilliant decision.

He was awarded his first international cap on 11 March 2008 against Zimbabwe, a game Bafana Bafana won 2-1. It came only eight months into his debut season in the PSL, which was testament to the impact he made as a rookie.

He has made 29 appearances for South Africa and will wear the number 16 during the World Cup.

Bernard Parker (17)

Bernard Parker plays for Dutch champions FC Twente Enschede. He has also played for Red Star Belgrade and before that for Thanda Royal Zulu in the Premier Soccer League.

He is a small striker, but is blessed with pace and is a hard worker. At age 24, he still has plenty of good years of football left in him too.

Parker has made 28 appearances for Bafana Bafana and scored eight goals. They include a brace in a 2-0 victory over New Zealand in the 2009 Confederations Cup. His debut came in the same match in which Teko Modise and Kagiso Dikgacoi made their first appearances against Malawi on 26 May 2007, a game that South Africa won 5-4 from the penalty spot.

Parker plays in jersey number 17.

Siyabonga Nomvethe (18)

Siyabonga Nomvethe, at the age of 32, is one of the elder statesmen in the South African squad. He plays for Moroka Swallows, but is widely travelled, having also played for African Wanderers, Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates in South Africa, Udinese, Salernitana and Empoli in Italy, Djurgården in Sweden, and Aalborg in Denmark.

Nomvethe is a skilful striker who won a place for himself at the World Cup with impressive performances in training camps ahead of the football spectacular. He previously played in the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002 and scored the winner for Bafana Bafana in a 1-0 victory over Slovenia.

He made his debut for South Africa against Trinidad and Tobago on 6 May 1999, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat. He has played 76 times for Bafana Bafana and scored 16 goals. He wears jersey number 18.

Surprise Moriri (19)

Surprise Moriri is a member of PSL big guns Mamelodi Sundowns. He has been with the Pretoria club since 2004, having joined the Brazilians from Silver Stars.

A versatile player, he features as an attacking midfielder or a second striker and was named the PSL Player of the Season in 2005/06.

He first turned out for Bafana Bafana on 8 October 2003 in a 3-0 victory over Lesotho in Maseru. Morori has played in 34 internationals and scored five goals. He plays with the number 19 on his jersey.

Bongani Khumalo (20)

Bongani Khumalo was born in Manzini, Swaziland, but moved to South Africa at the age of two. A central defender, he plays for SuperSport United, who have won the PSL for three years in succession. Before joining Matsantsansa in 2007, he turned out for Pretoria University.

He is just 23 years of age, but has developed a reputation as a solid defender for the PSL champions.

He was first selected for the national team on 11 March 2008 in a match against Zimbabwe which Bafana Bafana won 2-1. He has won 14 international caps and wears jersey number 20.

Siyabongweni Sangweni (21)

Defender Siyabongweni Sangweni plays for Durban club Golden Arrows in the South African Premier Soccer League. He joined the team in 2005 from Uthukela.

Now 28 years of age, he came onto the international stage in 2007. However, it is only recently that he has made an impact. He impressed coach Carlos Alberto Parreira during training camps for the World Cup and also scored his only international goal yet in a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in May 2010.

He has nine caps to his name and is in jersey 21.

Shu-Aib Walters (22)

Shu-Aib Walters was probably the biggest surprise selection in the Bafana Bafana squad, but he earned his place with a stellar season between the posts for PSL club Maritzburg United.

He began his career with Clyde Pinelands in 2005, moving on to Vasco da Gama Cape Town, Bloemfontein Celtic, and then Maritzburg United, where he is on loan.

Walters, who has yet to win an international cap, is South Africa's third choice goalkeeper. His jersey number is 22.

Thanduyise Khubon (23)

Thanduyise Khuboni is 24 years of age and has been with South African Premier Soccer League club Golden Arrows since 2007.

A defensive midfielder, he emerged as a favourite of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira during South Africa's training camps in the lead-up to the World Cup. He has also gained valuable experience as a team-mate of fellow Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi at Durban club Golden Arrows.

Khuboni made his international debut earlier this year on 27 January against Zimbabwe in Durban in a clash which South Africa won 3-0. He has played nine times for the national team.

He plays in the number 23 jersey.

Carlos Alberto Parreira (coach)

Carlos Alberto Parreira is South Africa's coach and a man of immense experience. The 67-year-old Brazilian began his coaching career way back in 1967 with São Cristóvão and the following year had his first experience of African football when he took charge of Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko.

His first international job came in 1978 as the coach of Kuwait. He led Kuwait to the World Cup in 1982 and has since coached the United Arab Emirates in the 1990 World Cup, Brazil to the title in 1994 in the USA, Saudi Arabia in France in 1998, and Brazil in Germany in 2006.

By coaching South Africa in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, he equals the record of Bora Milutinovic for the most national teams coached at the World Cup.