It’s often said that attackers win you games but defenders win your titles! Our football analyst takes a closer look at the last line of defence as he ranks the top seven goalkeepers to ever grace the PSL.
All Images – Steve Haag Sports
7. Senzo Meyiwa
Meyiwa had a promising career as a youngster, often competing with Itumeleng Khune for a place in the national teams since their days in the under 17 side. As soon as he broke into the senior Orlando Pirates team, he faced stiff competition from Moeneeb Josephs and when everyone thought he would never fulfill his potential he turned his career around, becoming the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Meyiwa went on to captain both Pirates and Bafana Bafana. His career-defining moment came in the 2013 CAF Champions League when the Buccaneers were a man down against TP Mazembe in DRC, where he saved two penalties. The Buccaneers would go on to reach the final, losing to Al Ahly. He was on course to helping South Africa qualify for the 2015 AFCON when his tragic and untimely passing came in September 2014.
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| The late Senzo Meyiwa |
6. William Okpara
“Pastor” Okpara was a vital cog in the Pirates team that won the 1995 CAF Champions League. The Nigerian international holds the record of Pirates’ appearances with 375 matches, and is also the club’s longest-serving player.
Willy who’s currently a member of the Pirates technical team was known for his no-nonsense approach and has three league titles to his name.
5. Brian Baloyi
“Spiderman” played for two of the biggest teams in Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, winning two league titles with each and countless trophies. Baloyi was Bafana Bafana’s number one when they reached the AFCON final in 1998.
Having captained both teams as well as the national side, Baloyi was known for his acrobatic goalkeeping and penalty-saving skills. The legendary figure always had a small bag in the net and was already recognisable on the field with flashy hairstyles which spelled confidence.
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| Brian Baloyi during the Kaizer Chiefs Legends vs Liverpool legends match at Moses Mabhida Stadium |
4. Moeneeb Josephs
One of the bravest goalkeepers in his heyday, the former Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits, Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu goalkeeper has won four league titles. He still holds the record for most PSL clean sheets in a single season having remained unbeaten in 17 games in the 2009/10 season.
“Slim Kat” was an integral member of the Pirates double-treble winning team between 2010 and 2012 and helped Bidvest Wits win their first league title and a few trophies in 2016 and 2017.
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| Moeneeb Josephs is currently serving as an assistant coach at AmaZulu |
3. Itumeleng Khune
One of the most decorated goalkeepers when it comes to individual awards, Khune has spent his entire career so far at Kaizer Chiefs having come through the youth ranks. Itu has three league titles to his name and in the 2012/13 season, he was crowned the best player in the PSL.
Khune who has won the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award four times has been Bafana Bafana’s number one goalkeeper for over three years.
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| Khune has won the PSL Goalkeeper of the Year four times |
2. Denis Onyango
Onyango competed with Andre Arendse for a starting berth in the most successful SuperSport United team that won three consecutive league titles between 2008 and 2010 and in the 2009/10 season after the legend’s retirement he became the undisputed number one. Onyango went on to win a further three league titles with Mamelodi Sundowns.
His heroics in Sundowns’ CAF Champions League triumphant 2016 campaign earned him the Best African-Based Footballer of the year award, a feat yet to be achieved by any other PSL-based player. In 2017 he captained Uganda to their first AFCON qualification in 39 years!
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| The Best African-based footballer in 2016, Denis Onyango. |
1. Andre Arendse
He’s arguably the most successful South African goalkeeper since the country was readmitted to international football in 1992. Among other trophies, Arendse has five league titles to his name, having won the main prize with Cape Town Spurs (before PSL era), Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns and twice with SuperSport United.
The goalminder who had a stint with Fulham and a few other European teams was also the first-choice keeper for the golden generation of Bafana Bafana which won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.
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| Arendse often gets called up to serve as the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper coach |
Written by Benedict Ngwenya for Hollywoodbets
