Greatest underdog stories in the history of South African football
Although South Africa’s presence in the world of football is not quite as imposing as it is in other sports such as rugby and cricket, South Africa has nevertheless managed to produce some incredible talent over the years.
Although for much of its modern history South Africa was locked out of many of the most prominent international football leagues, cups and games, with the birth of modern South Africa in 1994, this great nation has continued to establish itself on a global stage through the efforts of its many fine athletes.
Over the course of South Africa’s football history, the country has produced some truly world-beating talent, and as South African sports fans look to predict the outcome of a match, there has never been a better time to reflect on some of these sporting heroes!
With that said, keep reading the following article for a quick run-down of some of South African football’s pluckiest underdogs who have etched their names in the annals of South African sporting history.
Lucas Radebe
Growing up and developing his talents in 1980s South Africa, Radebe quickly made a name for himself as one of the most promising talents in South African football. Although still a teenager, Radebe established himself as a solid performer in midfield, before moving on to centre-half, where he was to spend the majority of his career. Eventually, Radebe made the move to Kaizer Chiefs, with the future looking bright.
However, Radebe was shot when he was in a car, driving with his younger brother. After being rushed to hospital, Radebe received the news that the bullet had miraculously passed through him, hitting only flesh rather than vital organs.
Despite this potentially tragic setback, Radebe managed to make a recovery to playing form. Eventually, he made his way to Leeds football club, where he spent a productive 11 years on the team. The career highlight for Radebe was steering his native team to victory in the Cup of Nations tournament – a truly incredible story for this determined and incredibly lucky underdog. Despite never having won a major league title, Radebe is still known as one of the great Leeds players.
Patrick Ntsoelengoe
Given the reigning social and political conditions of South Africa before 1994, the history of South Africa sports is also at times a history of lost talent. With millions of South Africans disenfranchised from full participation in social and political life, playing professional sports was often an unrealisable dream for many South Africans in this period.
In certain respects, the story of Patrick Ntsoelengoe follows a similar track. With South Africa banned from competing internationally by FIFA until 1992, Ntsoelengoe’s international playing record saw him amass just a single cap, which he earned in a 1977 7-0 victory over Rhodesia. This is despite his playing career running from 1971 to 1984.
After starting out with Kaizer Chiefs, Ntsoelengoe eventually moved to the United States, where he saw successful placements in Minnesota, Denver and Toronto. Ntsoelengoe’s story is ultimately one of unrealised success, however, as despite being considered a truly world-beating talent by football analysts and pundits alike, the political conditions of the day meant that Ntsoelengoe could never fully realise his potential. For this reason, Ntsoelengoe embodies the underdog spirit that so many native South African players had to exhibit in this era as they fought against a system that sought to oppress them.
Doctor Khumalo
Known as one of the ‘Nation Builders’ who won the Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil in 1996, just a year after South Africa’s history-making Rugby World Cup win, Doctor Khumalo quickly became a local celebrity through his sporting endeavours.
As the centrepiece of the South African football squad during the 1990s, Khumalo garnered a total of 50 caps playing for his home team, and in doing so earned a reputation as one of the continent’s best midfielders. This epic career run also saw him representing South Africa in the 1998 World Cup in France.
Although never making the switch to the European football leagues, Khumalo was truly a hometown idol. With over 400 league appearances, and numerous tournament and domestic championship wins to his name for his much-loved Kaizer Chiefs, it is easy to see why Khumalo amassed so many fans.
In this sense, Doctor Khumalo embodies the pure underdog spirit that South African athletes in this era had to exhibit. Despite the political and social conditions that were stacked against him in the early days of his career, through pure grit, determination and talent, Khumalo established himself as a South African sporting hero.