South Africa: Premier League Nations
The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is South Africa. According to the Premier League website, 14 players have represented South Africa in the Premier League.
First Player – Philemon Masinga (Leeds United, 1994-96)
After turning the heads of European clubs with his goalscoring exploits in the South African top-flight, striker Phil Masinga joined Leeds United in a deal that also saw midfielder/defender Lucas Radebe swap South Africa for England.
It had been reported that Radebe was only included in the deal to keep Masinga happy, but hindsight shows that Radebe proved the far better purchase. Masinga scored five goals in two seasons at Elland Road, while Radebe, even ravaged by injury in his final years, stayed for over a decade.
Masinga did go on to enjoy success in Europe, in a four-year spell with Italian side Bari. He was also part of the South Africa side that won their first and to date only Africa Cup of Nations, in 1996.
Masinga died of cancer in January 2019, aged 49. He will forever be remembered as the first South African to play in the Premier League.
Records
- Most Appearances – Steven Pienaar (214)
- First appearance – Philemon Masinga (West Ham 0-0 LEEDS, August 20th 1994)
- Most goals – Benni McCarthy (37)
- First goal – Philemon Masinga (LEEDS 2-3 Chelsea, August 27th 1994)
Current/Most Recent Players
The last South African to appear in the Premier League was record appearance maker Steven Pienaar, who ended a 10-year spell in the Premier League when he left relegated Sunderland in 2017.
Trivia
- South Africa are one of 32 CAF nations to have been represented in the Premier League.
- Phil Masinga received the first red card in the history of the South Africa national team.
- South Africa finished in the top three in each of their first three Africa Cup of Nations finals appearances (1st – 1996, 2nd – 1998, 3rd – 2000), but they have not reached the semi-finals since.