Doctor Khumalo: My Favourtie Bafana goals

Lyle Foster scored a brace against Liberia to increase his international goals to three. But that is still 28 goals behind all top scorer Benni McCarthy and six goals behind Doctor Khumalo who scored, who scored the first ever Bafana Bafana goal.

Top Bafana Bafana goalscorers
31
– Benni McCarthy
29 – Shaun Bartlett
23 – Katlego Mphela, Bernard Parker
18 – Phil Masinga
15 – Siyabonga Nomvete
13 – Sibusiso Zuma
12 – Siphiwe Tshabalala, Percy Tau, Tokelo Rantie
10 – Delron Buckely, Teko Modise
9 – Doctor Khumalo

In 1998, KICK OFF Magazine spoke to Khumalo about his favourite Bafana Bafana goals. This is an except, from The Doc Khumalo story published in KICK OFF magazine, 6 April 1998 edition.

South Africa 1 Cameroon 0 (At Kings Park Stadium, 7 July 1992)
A penalty, but this was an important goal of course. It was South Africa’s first match – we were not yet called Bafana Bafana – and it was our first goal in international football. One of Cameroon’s players, Julius Onana, handled the ball and the ref pointed to the spot. It was my job to take the kick and the noise at King’s Park was deafening! Sometimes fans go quiet before a penalty, but this time I just remember the noise seemed to get louder. So, I was a little nervous. I mean, I was about to make history – but what if I missed. I managed to stay ‘professional’ about it and block out all thoughts. I’ll never forget the feeling as a I struck the ball to the ‘keeper’s right. Goal – what a moment. And now the crowd was really noisy.

South Africa 1 Argentina 1 (At Ellis Park, 13 May 1995)
That was a great goal. It felt extra special to score for President Mandela – this was a Mandela Cup game and all South Africans took it very seriously. I enjoyed the goal because of the double one-two I played with Mark Williams and because I hit so well from outside of the D-Line, without slowing my run. Mark got the ball, gave it to me. It was happening very quickly, when it came to me the second time, there were two defenders right on me, so I had no time to control it, or carry the ball forward. I hit it first time, but hard with the outside boot. It curled past the ‘keeper and in.

South Africa 2 Brazil 3 (At FNB Stadium, 24 April 1996)
Another Nelson Mandela Challenge game, and another good goal – this time against the world champions. It was strange though, because at the time I didn’t feel anything special. I was just happy to score; nothing else. It was after the game that I said: ‘hey, I scored against Brazil’. It was sad we lost 3-2 after leading 2-0, but at the time my goal must have seemed important to the crowd because it put us 2-0 ahead just before halftime. The atmosphere was amazing, Helman [Mkhalele], I think it was, hit the ball, it deflected off a defender and I hit a dropped volley, first time, past the ‘keeper.

South Africa 2 Zaire 1 (At Municipal Stadium, Lome, Togo, 27 April 1997)
This was an important game because it was my comeback after being dropped and the win got our [1998] World Cup campaign back on track. I received a pass from Brendan Augustine on the right. I cracked it with my instep high to the right of my former Kaizer Chiefs teammate, Botende Eshele. 1-0 after only 20 minutes – that felt good. Later in the game, I made the winner for Phil Masinga, I dummied my opponent four times, then gave Phil a pinpoint cross. That was an answer to my critics who say I take too long with the ball – funny enough they all liked it that time.

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