In light of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kicking off on Wednesday, we reflect on the football team that represented South Africa in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Where are they now?
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The story
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is finally here, with sports such as football, handball, and seven's rugby giving supporters a glimpse of what's to come from now until 11 August.
The 19-day sporting extravaganza kicked off it's under-23 Men's football on Wednesday, with Argentina and Morocco serving up a classic on day 1, with a dramatic 2-1 win for the Atlas Lions.
Unfortunately for South African football fans, Mzansi won't be represented on both female and male football competitions, with Banyana Banyana narrowly missing out on qualifying to the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
With the lack of South African flair at the Olympics football in France this year, we look back at David Notoane's under-23 side that included current Bafana Bafana stars such as captain, Ronwen Williams, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, and strikers Evidence Makgopa and Lyle Foster.
Despite boasting a talented squad, including the late Luke Fleurs, this team failed to register a single point at the Tokyo Olympics, which was a new, unflattering personal record.
South Africa men's last game of the Tokyo Olympics saw them suffer a heavy 3-0 defeat against Mexico, after being edged 1-0 by hosts Japan in their opening game and went on to suffer an agonising 4-3 loss against France.
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Here's a look at the full squad and where they are now in football careers:
- Ronwen Williams — Currently plays for Mamelodi Sundowns and captains Bafana Bafana. He's the reigning PSL Footballer of the Year.
- Mondli Mpoto — Currently on the books at Royal AM.
- Sifiso Mlungwana — Currently on the books at Lamontville Golden Arrows.
- Tercious Malepe — Recently joined Richards Bay after parting ways with AmaZulu mid-2023/24 season.
- Sibusiso Mabiliso — Currently without a club after parting ways with AmaZulu in January.
- Thendo Mukumela — Currently at Black Leopards after a brief spell at AmaZulu.
- Thabiso Monyane — Currently playing for Orlando Pirates, received Bafana Bafana call-up in 2023.
- Katlego Mohamme — Still on Mamelodi Sundowns' books after a 2023/24 loan spell to Sekhukhune United.
- Teboho Mokoena — A mainstay in midfield for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana.
- Thabo Cele — Currently playing in Russia for top flight outfit, Fakel Voronezh.
- Nkosingiphile Ngcobo — Currently playing for Kaizer Chiefs.
- Reeve Frosler — Currently playing for Kaizer Chiefs.
- Goodman Mosele — Still with Orlando Pirates after a solid loan 2023/24 spell at Chippa United.
- Kamohelo Mahlatsi — Currently without a club after parting ways with Chippa United at the end of the 2023/24 season.
- Fagrie Lakay — Currently playing his football in Egypt's top flight with Pyramids FC.
- Luther Singh — Recently joined AEL Limmasol in Cyprus.
- Evidence Makgopa — Currently playing for Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana.
- Macbeth Mahlangu — Currently at TS Galaxy.
- Kobamelo Kodisang — Recently joined Mamelodi Sundowns.
- Lyle Foster - currently at Burnley FC
- Luke Fleurs - sadly passed away
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games men's team garnered a little more success in their efforts with two points from Group A that included hosts, Brazil, with Denmark and Iraq.
Under the tutelage of Owen Da Gama, that team boasted stars such as Itumeleng Khune, Eric Mathoho Keagan Dolly, Rivaldo Coetzee, Mothobi Mvala, and Lebo Mothiba among others.
In their tournament opener against Brazil, SA earned a point against the Neymar-led Samba Boys, partly thanks to Khune's remarkable efforts in goal to help Da Gama's men keep a clean sheet.
Khune took to Instagram to look back on his heroic efforts in the game and to wish the Olympians all the best with opening ceremony taking place in Paris at 19:30 (SA time).
