Vision 2022: End of Phase One, now Phase Two

25 July 2019 – With the end of the First Phase of Vision 2022, we now enter the critical second phase.

The first Phase ran from 2014-2019 and ended with the conclusion of the AFCON tournament in Egypt.

During this Phase, there has been massive Coaching Education where to date, over 6 000 coaches from Introductory Coaching courses to Pro-License have been trained by the Association.

There has also been an aggressive recruitment of new and up and coming referees and the success of this drive is evidenced by numerous appointments of our match officials to various CAF and FIFA tournaments.

Recently, referee Victor Gomes and assistant referee Zakhele Siwela were part of the elite officials to handle matches at the AFCON 2019 in Egypt.

One of our own, Jerome Damon was recently elevated to the position of FIFA’s referee development officer for Africa, an indication of how our match officials are highly rated on the continent and globally.

On top of all this, our Regions and Provinces have embarked on an aggressive football development programmes which include hosting of numerous tournaments from the ages of u13 for boys and girls upwards, coaching and referees courses.

PHASE TWO OF VISION 2022 (from 2019-2022):

The launch of the National Women’s National League will kick-start Phase Two of Vision 2022. The initial backing of the National Women’s League was funded by the Legacy Trust which pumped in R30 million to kick off this league.

The launch of this league will strengthen the player pool for Banyana Banyana and all of our women’s national teams as well as raising the level of football in the country.

Banyana Banyana starts the new phase’s programme by featuring in the COSAFA Cup, which if they manage to win, will have made it unprecedented three titles in a row. They will then be engaged in the AWCON 2020 qualification process as well as 2023 FIFA World Cup campaign. Banyana Banyana already boasts several players who ply their trade overseas, making them one of the top two teams on the continent.

Bafana Bafana have been drawn against Ghana, Sudan and the winner between Mauritius/Sao Tome & Principe in Group C. The opening match is in Accra, Ghana in November this year.

The CHAN tournament, consisting of local and mostly developmental players starts with South Africa playing Lesotho this coming Sunday in Maseru in the first leg. The second leg will take place in Johannesburg on 4 August 2019. The CHAN tournament will take place in Cameroon in 2020.

The Senior Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup draw will be conducted soon while the u23 will take on Zimbabwe in September in the CAF Olympic qualifiers.

The u20 women and men’s teams will participate in the 12th All-Africa games in Morocco 2019 and South Africa will play Nigeria, Zambia and Cameroon in the women’s group while the men will meet Morocco, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

South African players based overseas (1996-2003): 

  1. Buhle Damane – (Goalkeeper) Vitoria Setubal, Portugal (19)
  2. Sylian Mokono – (Right-back) Utrecht, Holland (20)
  3. Kgosi Nthle – (Left-back), Scunthorpe, England (25)
  4. Nikola Tavares – (Centre-back), Crystal Palace, England (20)
  5. Nkanyiso Shinga – (Left-back), Vitoria Setubal, Portugal (19)
  6. Dean Solomons – (Centre-back), Ajax Amsterdam, Holland (20)
  7. Bradley Cross – (Centre-back), Schalke, Germany (18)
  8. Mhleli Mleya – (Centre-back), Pinhalnovense, Portugal (19)
  9. Joel Untersee – (Right-back), Empoli, Italy (25)
  10. Mhleli Mabuza – (Right-back), Pinhalnovense, Portugal (19)
  11. Alex McMilan – (Right-back), Ytterhadal, Sweden (20)
  12. Sphephelo Sithole – (Central midfielder), Belenenses, Portugal (20)
  13. Keanin Ayer – (Central midfilder), Varbergs Bois, Sweden (19)
  14. Keanu Baccus – (Central midfilder), Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia (21)
  15. Thabo Cele – (Central midfilder), Cova Di Piedade, Portugal (22)
  16. Khanya Leshabela – (Attacking midfielder), Leicester City, England (19)
  17. Katlego Mashigo – (Central midfilder), Bohemian FC, Ireland (18)
  18. Kwinda Netshitangani – (Striker), Kaptiva Academy, Spain (18)
  19. Tashreeq Matthews –(Striker), Borrusia Dortmund, Germany (18)
  20. Kobamelo Kodisang – (Striker), Sanjoanense (Loan from Wits), Portugal (20)
  21. Sphesihle Mdlalose – (Striker), Southampton, England (20)
  22. Mihlali Myambela – (Striker), SC Farense, Portugal (22)
  23. Kurt Abrahams – (Striker), Westerlo (Loan from Sint Truidense), Belgium (22)
  24. Liam Jordan – (Striker), HB Koge, Denmark (21)
  25. Luther Singh – (Striker), SC Braga, Portugal (21)
  26. Kgaogelo Sekgota – (Striker), Vitoria Setubal, Portugal (21)
  27. Sibusiso Shibane – (Striker), Portimonense, Portugal (20)
  28. Percy Tau – (Striker), Brighton&Hove Albion, England (25)
  29. Lyle Foster – (Striker), AS Monaco, France (18)
  30. Amboirya Mahadi – (Striker), Aubagne, France, (19)
  31. Lebo Mothiba – (Striker), Strasbourg, France (23)
  32. Max McMillan – (Striker), Leeds United, England, (17)
  33. Boipelo Mashigo – (Striker), Unterhatshing, Germany (17)
  34. Genino Palace – (Attacking midfilder), SC Braga, Portugal (21)
  35. Leo Thethani – (Striker), Ajax Amsterdam, Holland (20)
  36. Lindo Mfeka – (Attacking midfielder), Reno 1868, USA (25)
  37. Lebogang Phiri – (Central midfielder), Guingamp, France (24)
  38. Thibang Phete – (Centre back/midfielder), Famalicao, Portugal, (24)
  39. Simo Mbhele – (Striker), Palmenense, Portugal (21)
  40. Bayanda Zondi – (Striker), Kaptiva Academy, Spain(Barcelona) (16)
  41. Andras Nemeth – (Striker), Genk, Belgium (17)
  42. Tom Barkhuizen – (Striker), Preston North End, England (25)
  43. Carlton Ubaezunou, Striker, Longford United, Ireland
  44. Tlou Tumelo – (Midfielder), Longford FC, Scotland (18)

South African players abroad from (1993): 

  1. Ricardo Nunes – (Left back), Pogon, Poland (27)
  2. Kamohelo Mokotjo – (Central midfielder), Brentford, England (28)
  3. Bongani Zungu – (Central midfielder), Amiens, France (27)
  4. Keaghan Jacobs – (Central midfielder), Livingston, Scotland (29)
  5. Kyle Jacobs – (Attacking midfielder), Queens of the South, Scotland (26)
  6. Thulani Serero – (Midfielder), Vitesse, Holland (29)
  7. May Mahlangu – (Central midfielder), Ordabasy, Kazakstan (30)
  8. Keagan Dolly – (Striker), Montpellier, France (26)
  9. Lars Veldwijk – (Striker), Sparta Rotterdam, Holland (28)
  10. Pule Ekstein – (Attacking midfielder) ,Sabah FC, Azerbaijan (26)
  11. Lebo Moloto – (Striker), Nashville, USA (30)
  12. Andrew Surman – (Midfielde)r, Bournemouth, England (32)
  13. Dino Ndlovu – (Striker), Greentown Zhejiang, China (29)
  14. Ayanda Patosi – (Striker), Baniyas, UAE (27)
  • Some of the players who play in much lower leagues in Europe like Matthew Patterson are not mentioned in this.