The African legacy within the Premier League is a grand one, with several world-class players stemming from the continent. With that being said, if we circle in on South Africa specifically things get a little bit more inconsistent. From the Ronaldos of the world down to the Heskeys, this bunch fall somewhere in the murky middle.
There’s certainly been a few headline making moments for Bafana Bafana as a nation, but just how much of an impact have they made in the greatest league in the world? We’re about to separate the great from the god awful, and as you’ll see a lot of the players that feature on this list can flip flop from one end of the spectrum to the other with ease.
13) Matty Pattison
Two years and a handful of appearances for Newcastle United before eventually ending up at Blyth Spartans. That’s quite the fall from grace. Image Source: Twitter
12) Mbulelo Mabizela
Aside from having a sensational name, Mbulelo Mabizela didn’t have the most memorable of tenures at White Hart Lane. Image Source: Twitter
11) Phil Masinga
Five goals in 31 appearances for Leeds United doesn’t exactly scream world-class striker, but Masinga did better than most on the grandest stage of them all. Image Source: Twitter
10) Tokelo Rantie
Tokelo falls into the category of “spontaneous foreign purchases from newly promoted teams”, which is unfortunate as there’s a lot of natural ability there. Oh, and it was Bournemouth in case you were wondering. Image Source: Twitter
9) Shaun Bartlett
You know you’ve made an impact on the national side when Nelson Mandela shows up at your wedding. Aside from that, though, we like to imagine Bartlett as something of a cult hero at Charlton. Image Source: Twitter
8) Eric Tinkler
Despite not having the longest of stints on the British Isles, Tinkler popped up with some fantastic performances for Barnsley. Image Source: Twitter
7) Quinton Fortune
Ah, Quinton. The South African superstar tends to get a lot of heat for his time at Old Trafford, but in terms of putting his nation on the map he did a solid job – for the most part.
Image Source: Twitter
6) Kagisho Dikgacoi
Whether it was for Fulham or Crystal Palace, Dikgacoi always gave 110% and that deserves much more than just a participation award.
Image Source: Twitter
5) Mark Fish
Mark Fish was a rock in heart of the defence for both Charlton and Bolton, with captain consistent appearing over 100 times for both clubs. Stellar stuff.
Image Source: Twitter
4) Aaron Mokoena
Nobody wanted to mess with Aaron Mokoena, and it’s not just because he could protect a lead better than most. His many years in England with Portsmouth and Blackburn are about as memorable as anything on this list. Image Source: Twitter
3) Benni McCarthy
For one season, Benni McCarthy was one of the best strikers throughout the top European leagues and that alone has earned him a place in the top three. Image Source: Twitter
2) Steven Pienaar
Over the years he may have lost his spark, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Steven Pienaar has been flying the flag for South African football with some stunning performances for Everton, Tottenham and most recently Sunderland. What a guy. Image Source: Twitter
1) Lucas Radebe
When you’ve captained your country at the World Cup, you’re pretty much untouchable – but Radebe’s influence goes way beyond that courtesy of his legendary run with Leeds United. Image Source: Twitter
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So there you have it. You may well be a Radebe fanatic, a McCarthy fanboy or you may not have heard of the majority of these players. Whatever the case may be South Africa has established itself as an upcoming breeding ground for top talent that can come over to Europe and make some noise, and that deserves some form of admiration.
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