Once giants of South African football, Santos’ legacy still shines bright, and chairman Goolam Allie has revealed his top 10 players who defined the People’s Team’s golden years.
Founded in 1982, Santos FC climbed from humble beginnings in the Federation Professional League to become one of the most respected names in South African football. Their rise was relentless, built on community pride, fearless football, and a belief that heart could conquer history.
The club’s golden era came in the early 2000s, a period that still sends waves of nostalgia through Cape Town’s football circles. The People’s Team stunned the country by lifting the 2001/02 Premier Soccer League title, having already won the Bob Save Super Bowl in 2001 and the BP Top 8 in 2002. For a while, Santos stood toe-to-toe with the giants and often beat them.
But the glory didn’t last forever. Relegation from the PSL in 2012 marked the beginning of a slow, painful fall. By the 2016/17 season, they’d dropped further down the ranks, and today the once-proud side fights for survival in South Africa’s third division. However, in what appears to be a new low in the club’s dramatic decline is that the Former PSL champions, Santos FC, have been expelled from the ABC Motsepe League.
The ‘People’s Team’ received official notification of the decision from SAFA Cape Town on Monday, November 3. Still, the memories of their dominance and the players who made it possible remain unforgettable.
To honour those who shaped the club’s identity, chairman Goolam Allie has revealed his top 10 greatest Santos players of all time, a mix of leaders, warriors who gave their all for the badge and a few who left the club young to represent the club’s name worldwide.
GOOLAM ALLIE’S TOP 10 SANTOS PLAYERS
- Jean-Marc Ithier – Striker
- Edries Burton – Central defender
- Musa Otieno – Central defender
- Tyren Arendse – Forward
- Vincent Sokhela – Midfielder
- Thando Mngomeni – Midfielder
- Erwin Isaacs – Forward
- Nassief Morris – Central defender
- Andre Arendse – Goalkeeper
- John Mbizo – Right back
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