U.S. CUP

LEFT: ACE NTSOELENGOE BARTLETT (LEFT WITH RETURNS TEAMMATE GEOFF BARNETT) TRIED TO MLS alumnus RETURN TO THE NASL will ONE WINTER ONLY TO FIND captain at OUT THAT HIS NEW the Nike U.S. Cup. The PASSPORT WASN'T New England RECOGNIZED ABROAD. Revolution's Ivan McKinley is one of TOP RIGHT: THE SOUTH nine other foreign- AFRICAN MIGRATION TO based players called THE UNITED STATES BEGAN up by Coach Trott WITH , Moloto, who is using ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF the trip to prepare his THE NASL AND NOW team for the final OWNER OF THE MOST round of World Cup POPULAR TEAM IN SOUTH qualifying in Africa. AFRICA. The Bafana Bafana, whose roster is de- pleted by injuries and MIDDLE RIGHT: JOMO conflicts with the Bob SONO USED THE MONEY Save Super Bowl cup HE MADE PLAYING WITH final, opens up against THE , Zimbabwe in July. COLORADO CARIBOUS Goalkeepers — AND TORONTO BUZZARD Andre Arendse (Ox¬ TO BUY THE BIGGEST CLUB ford United, England), IN . Simon Gopane (Jomo Cosmos). Defenders BOTTOM RIGHT: FOR ROY — WEGERLE (RIGHT IN (Marseille, France), ACTION AGAINST ENGLAND David Kannemeyer AT U.S. CUP '93), THE (Ajax Cape Town), UNITED STATES OFFERED A Jacob Lekgetho FAST TRACK TO THE (Moroka Swallows), WORLD CUP.

Fabian McCarthy KEITH RANDOLPH ( Celtic), (Ajax, Netherlands), Cyril Nzama (Umtata Bush Bucks), Andrew Rabutla (Jomo Cos¬ American soccer shapes mos), Andile Sixaba (Ajax Cape Town). Midfielders — (Manchester Utd., En¬ gland), Ivan McKinley South African game (New England Revolt tion, USA), Helman Mkhalele zard, came back to South Africa with his tling between the United States and South Africa, (Ankaragucu, Turkey), BY MARK GLEESON American earnings and bought the fran¬ playing for Chiefs in the early stages of the do¬ Thabo Mngomeni (Or¬ in Johannesburg chise of Highlands Park, the biggest mestic season, going off to the NASL, and then lando Pirates), Dumisa club in Johannesburg. returning invariably just in time to help his Ngobe (Ankaragucu, The Cosmos wore the white of their club take an end-of-season trophy. Turkey), Godfrey s in many other countries in the New York contemporaries and also "America taught me a lot about life and about Sapula (Jomo Cos¬ soccer world, the British first adopted their badge, although this has mos), Dillon Sheppard self-discipline," says the midfield maestro, now a brought soccer to South Africa. In been changed over the years. youth coach at Kaizer Chiefs. "It also gave me a (Ajax Cape Town), this case, it was the military, thou¬ Arthur Zwane (Clas¬ South African champion in 1987, the lot of self-belief. I rubbed shoulders with some of Asand s of miles from home fighting the sic). Strikers — club has been a perennial contender the great names of world football, and we went to Shaun Bartlett (FC Boers in the great gold grab before the turn of the ever since and looks set to finish among the top places like Italy and England to play preseason Zurich, Switzerland), 20th century. five when the domestic league ends in mid-June. warmup games." An English colonial heritage still pervades The Orlando Pirates were started in the 1930s, ACE SUFFERS INDIGNITIES. The quiet- (Bochum, Germany), strongly through South African life, but it is the long before the connection with NASL, but even spoken Ntsoelengoe still had to suffer the indigni¬ George Americans whose stamp rests markedly on South they have Hollywood roots. The founding mem¬ ties of apartheid on his return, even if some of it Koumantarakis (Basle, Africa soccer. Switzerland), Patrick bers of the Soweto club were so enamored by was quiet comical. Mayo (Umtata Bucks). Chiefs, Cosmos, Pirates ... names that evoke Errol Flynn's acting in swashbuckling buccaneer "One trip," he recalls, "I had returned home great passion in the South African game and all movies of the day they chose the name and skull and sent my South African passport in for re¬ have their origins far over the Atlantic. and crossbones emblem. newal. Instead of giving it back, they sent me a The Chiefs are the product of Kaizer Motaung, KAIZER BUCKS SYSTEM. The political passport for Bophuthatswana, which made travel the first South African to play in the old NASL structures of South Africa in the 1970s and 1980 very difficult." who returned home to form his own club. gave little outlet for black achievement, the sti¬ Bophuthatswana was one of several Motaung had been Rookie of the Year with the fling effects of apartheid keeping opportunity to a "Bantustan" homelands created by the apartheid Chiefs in 1967 and three years later set minimum and leaders and heroes on a tight lease. government in the 1970s for blacks but only about a defection from the Orlando Pirates to form Motaung's success in the initial years of the recognized as "independent" countries by the the Kaizer Chiefs, today the most popular club in NASL bucked this system, and the reports of his South African regime. They had their own gov¬ the country. prowess in the United States filled the pages of the ernments, capital cities, passports, stamps but no The Chiefs' emblem is still that of the old black press. border posts. Atlanta club, and they play in black and gold in Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelengoe and , "I got to London with this Bop passport and front of legions of fans nationwide. arguably the two finest players produced by South naturally got stopped by the customs officer," POPPERFOTO Jomo Cosmos was formed in much the same Africa, were to take the mantle even further, Ntsolengoe says. "He said, 'Look here, Mister, DUMISA NGOBE way. Jomo Sono, who played for the New York making a name in North America. this passport is not international-recognized and Cosmos, Colorado Caribous and Toronto Bliz¬ Ntsoelengoe spent more than a decade shut- certainly not here.' I told him I wasn't going into www.socceramerica.com SOCCER AMERICA 12 JUNE 5, 2000 Because You're FANATIC! U.S. CUP

SOUTH AFRICANS IN THE PROS

There are 37 South Africans who have LUCAS MORIPE Year Club GP G played in the NASL and MLS. Two 1979 Sting 1 0 players—Andrew Parkinson (2 caps 1979 1 1 London, just in transit The best known of KAIZER MOTAUNG in 1984) and (41 caps Year Club GP G to the States. So they let all of these was Roy in 1992-98)— went on to represent 1968 28 13 me stay in the airport Wegerle, a prodigious 1969 Atlanta Chiefs 16 16 the United States. 1971 Atlanta Chiefs 28 8 waiting for my connec¬ schoolboy sportsman 1974 Denver Dynamos 15 7 tion, but they put a po¬ who went to Florida but DES BACKOS 1975 Denver Dynamos 20 4 liceman with me to en¬ gave up college to join Year Club GP G ABEDNIGO NGCOBO 1977 25 4 Year Club GP G sure I caught the con¬ his elder brother Steve DICKIE BACKMAN 1975 Denver Dynamos 20 5 nection. He sat with me at the TampaBay Row¬ Year Club GP G 1976 Minnesota Kicks 3 0 while I had my break¬ dies in the last year of 1996 30 0 PATRICK NTSOELENGOE 1997 Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 0 fast, and he was even the NASL in 1984. Year Club GP G SHAUN BARTLETT 1973 9 3 pushing my trolley in -born Year Club GP G 1975 Denver Dynamo 21 10 the end!" 1996 26 8 1976 Minnesota Kicks 25 7 Wegerle then played in 1997 Colorado Rapids 10 1 1977 Minnesota Kicks 23 3 JOMO THE BUC¬ England and won his 1997 MetroStars 13 2 1978 Minnesota Kicks 33 10 1979 Minnesota Kicks 31 9 HERMAN BLASCHKE CANEER. Ntsoelen- American citizenship 1980 Minnesota Kicks 34 13 Year Club GP G goe and Sono were to¬ before the 1994 World 1973 Miami Toros 10 1 1981 Minnesota Kicks 23 12 DENVE R DYNAMO S 1982 Toronto Blizzard 35 15 gether at the Toronto Cup finals, when South DAVID BYRNE 1983 Toronto Blizzard 12 3 Blizzard in 1982 but Africa had just returned Year Club GP G 1984 Toronto Blizzard 25 9 1980 Atlanta Chiefs 23 1 never played on the to international soccer. 1981 Atlanta Chiefs 30 3 ANDREW PARKINSON same team in an offi¬ In 1992, Wegerle 1982 Toronto Blizzard 35 10 Year Club GP G 1983 Toronto Blizzard 35 15 1980 24 3 cial game. could still have played 1984 Toronto Blizzard 24 13 1981 Manic 37 13 1982 18 8 "I was already, in for South Africa but felt RODNEY BUSH 1983 Team America 28 7 spring training in the prospect of playing Year Club GP G 1984 New York Cosmos 18 3 1980 San Diego Sockers 37 3 Florida when he ar¬ in the World Cup finals JOHN PASKIN LAWRENCE CHELIN Year Club GP G rived," says Ntsoelen- was worth choosing to Year Club GP G 1984 Toronto Blizzard 16 10 1981 Atlanta Chiefs 26 2 goe, "and we played a play for the United NEIL ROBERTS few times together States. MARTIN COHEN Year Club GP G Year Club GP G 1979 Atlanta Chiefs 19 14 there, but then we got "It wasn't a difficult 1977 Los Angeles Aztecs 26 3 1980 28 10 injured and his granny choice because as hosts 1979 25 0 1981 Tampa Bay Rowdies 25 2 was very sick back 1982 Edmonton Drillers 13 5 the USA were already Year Club GP G 1982 Toronto Blizzard 18 12 home and he decided to qualified," Wegerle 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies 24 1 1983 Toronto Blizzard 26 11 return. It's a real pity says, "and I knew that 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies 27 0 1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies 23 9 1978 Tampa Bay Rowdies 33 0 NATHAN SACKS because I would have if my citizenship went 1979 Tampa Bay Rowdies 37 1 Year Club GP G loved to have had a sea¬ through, I would make 1980 Tampa Bay Rowdies 36 0 1981 Tornado 16 0 1981 Tampa Bay Rowdies 36 1 son together with him." the team and get to play 1982 Tampa Bay Rowdies 32 2 BRIAN SEBAPOLE Year Club GP G 1983 Tampa Bay Rowdies 30 2 In South Africa at in the greatest event of 1998 San Jose Clash 12 0 1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies 23 1 the time, the two were them all." PHIL SETSHEDI MALCOM FILBY the embodiment of the MLS CONNEC¬ Year Club GP G Year Club GP G 1978 Colorado Caribous 10 0 rivalry between Chiefs TION. 1981 California Surf 1 0 The modern era and Pirates. Sono had of MLS gave an oppor¬ Year Club GP G Year Club GP G 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies 25 19 been the darling of the tunity for two South Af¬ 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 0 1976 Tampa Bay Rowdies 26 21 Buccaneers while rican internationals to 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies 22 19 Ntsoelengoe was find foreign vistas. Year Club GP G 1978 San Diego Sockers 17 2 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps 1 0 1979 Seattle Sounders 22 13 Chiefs' own "Ace." was 1980 Vancouver Whitecaps 23 0 1980 Seattle Sounders 8 1 There were many signed as a marquee BERNARD HARTZE JULIUS SONO others, too, who made MILTO N CROSSE player by the Colum¬ Year Club GP G Year Club GP G 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies 6 1 1981 Toronto Blizzard 11 1 their mark — some bus Crew, for which he RICHARD KELLETT JOMO SONO even going on to repre¬ never lived up to his Year Club GP G Year Club GP G sent the United States ability. Shaun Bartlett, 1978 3 0 1977 New York Cosmos 16 1 DOCTOR KHUMALO 1978 Colorado Caribous 30 8 at full international who had played with Year Club GP G 1979 Atlanta Chiefs 29 5 level. Khumalo in South 1996 26 3 1980 Toronto Blizzard 31 14 1997 Columbus Crew 19 2 1981 Toronto Blizzard 21 8 Africa's 1996 African 1982 Toronto Blizzard 5 0 Derek Smethurst WEBSTER LICHABA from Durban, who Nations Cup winning Year Club GP G GEOFF WEGERLE team, was never happy 1979 Atlanta Chiefs 30 0 Year Club GP G played in England at 1980 Atlanta Chiefs 32 2 1978 Oakland Stompers 22 1 Chelsea, was a prodi¬ and constantly seeking 1981 Atlanta Chiefs 33 2 1983 Toronto Blizzard 14 2 gious goalscorer in the a move to Europe, STUART LILLEY ROY WEGERLE which eventually came Year Club GP G Year Club GP G NASL, later becoming 1980 Atlanta Chiefs 27 1 1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies 21 9 a minister of religion in in the form of a transfer ANDRIES MASEKO 1996 Colorado Rapids 22 2 Orlando. David Byrne to Swiss club FC Year Club GP G 1997 Colorado Rapids 14 2 returned home and still Zurich. 1978 Wash. Diplomats 13 0 1997 D.C. United 19 5 1979 Wash. Diplomats 11 1 1998 D.C. United 5 2 plays in the Second Di¬ Ivan McKinley's 1980 S.J. Earthquakes 28 3 1998 Tampa Bay Mutiny 12 1 IVAN McKINLEY STEVE WEGERLE vision nearing the age form at the New En¬ Year Club GP G Year Club GP G of 40. Andries Maseko gland Revolution 1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny 31 3 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies 27 5 is a youth coach in earned him two caps for 1997 Tampa Bay Mutiny 19 1 1978 Tampa Bay Rowdies 32 9 1997 N.E. Revolution 9 4 1979 Tampa Bay Rowdies 37 6 Johannesburg, while 1980 Tampa Bay Rowdies 28 10 JO N VA WOERDE the Bafana Bafana last 1998 N.E. Revolution 28 4 Neil Roberts became a year, but he remains 1999 N.E. Revolution 29 4 1981 Tampa Bay Rowdies 10 2 2000 N.E. Revolution 7 1 1981 New York Cosmos 8 6 golf professional in today's only connec¬ 1982 New York Cosmos 31 3 Minnesota. tion between the two countries following the KENNETH MOKGOJOA 1983 Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 19 0 Year Club GP G 1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies 23 3 WEGERLES REUNITED. A constant stream decision of Butler University star Stephen 1978 Wash. Diplomats 27 10 1979 Wash. Diplomats 20 4 ROY WIGGAMANSEN of professionals traveling across in the NASL was Armstrong to pass up a move to D.C. United in 1980 Wash. Diplomats 10 0 Year Club GP G order to try his luck in Europe. 1981 Atlanta Chiefs 5 0 1979 Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 13 0 matched by an even bigger flow of players into the 1980 Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 11 0 college system, some of them later returning to perform in South Africa's but (Mark Gleeson is one of the leading authori¬ • Statistics, which include playoff games, are through May 21. many staying behind in the USA. ties on African soccer.) www.socceramerica.com SOCCER AMERICA 13 JUNE 5, 2000 Because You're FANATIC!