Former Bafana Bafana star Ayanda Patosi has revealed the four national team icons who played a pivotal role in shaping his professional career and guiding his rise to the international stage.
Patosi, now 33, made his Bafana debut on 12 October 2013 in an international friendly against Morocco. Overall, Patosi has earned over 10 caps for Bafana, with three goals, according to Transfermarkt statistics.
Currently, the former Cape Town City FC star is on the books of an ambitious SAFA Western Cape ABC Motsepe League side, Hope FC, whom he officially joined last month.
This comes after Patosi had been without a club since January 2023, after cutting ties with Foolad FC in Iran.
Hope FC are placed in Stream A of the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League for the 2025/26 season. As things stand, they are in second position in their stream, with 10 points after five outings.
‘I ASK FOR ADVICE FROM THEM’: AYANDA PATOSI ON THE FOUR BAFANA LEGENDS
The four players who influenced Patosi’s football journey are Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Itumeleng Khune, and Anele Ngcongca. The latter tragically passed away in November 2020 at the age of 33.
Patosi noted that even today, he still seeks their guidance when necessary.
“You know, I’m still 33 years old, though. But people think I’m old because maybe I started playing professional football earlier and got to Bafana Bafana sooner, playing with the likes of Reneilwe ‘Yeye’ Letsholonyane, Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala, Itumeleng Khune, and the late Anele Ngcongca,” said Patosi in an interview with FARPost.
“So, I played with players who participated in the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and I was running after their bus with my academy [Africa Soccer Development] in Cape Town. Then, boom! In 2011, I’m sharing the same field with them; it’s a dream come true.
“I’m still friends with them now. Sometimes I ask for advice from them even now.”
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