Home turf is where the heart is
Defender: Bongani Khumalo (Bidvest Wits)
He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2011 after impressing during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. He was also pivotal to SuperSport’s three successive Absa Premiership titles. In his four-and-a-half years at Spurs, Khumalo never made an appearance and spent much of his time out on loan. He returned to the country to re-join SuperSport in 2015
before ending up at Wits.
Defender: Tefu Mashamaite (SuperSport United)
He had already hit 30 years of age when he left Chiefs to join BK Hacken in Sweden. Mashamaite returned home to join SuperSport after one season abroad.
Goalkeeper: Darren Keet ( Wits)
He returned home in 2016 to reunite with Wits after spending five seasons in Belgium with KV Kortrijk. Keet, 28, was a regular at his club and at some point attracted the interest of top clubs in Europe. Kortrijk had also wanted to keep him but he had seemingly had enough.
Midfielder: Kagisho Dikgacoi (free agent)
He caught the eye of Fulham in the English Premiership while playing for Golden Arrows and Bafana. In 2009, Dikgacoi debuted for Fulham in a 2-2 draw with West Ham. He was shipped off to Crystal Palace and then Cardiff City. He’s now back, overweight and clubless.
Midfielder: Mark Mayambela (Chippa)
He moved to Sweden to join Djurgardens IF in 2014 following stints with Bloemfontein Celtic, Orlando Pirates and Mpumalanga Black Aces. The ball wizard spent one season abroad before returning to join Chippa United. He’s back at Chippa after a spell at Ajax Cape Town.
Defender: Siboniso Gaxa (Wits)
The man called “Pa” made a name for himself at both Tshwane giants SuperSport and Sundowns before playing for Lierse in Belgium between 2010 and 2012. It was not a memorable stint though and the now 33-year-old joined Chiefs upon his return.
Midfielder: Daylon Claasen (Wits)
He left Ajax Cape Town as a teenager to Ajax Amsterdam in 2008. After failing to impress in Holland, Claasen joined Lierse in Belgium, then moved to Poland before signing with 1860 Munich in 2014. His contract was not renewed at the German club and moved back home to join Wits.
Striker: Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)
He was hot property when he left Thanda Royal Zulu for Serbian club Red Star Belgrade in 2009.
The now 31-year-old’s short stay at Red Star ended when he moved to FC Twente that same year. He returned back to the country in 2012 and joined Kaizer Chiefs.
Defender: Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg United)
The former Mamelodi Sundowns starlet left the country to join FC Rostov in 2012, aged 20. The central defender was soon back after a highly publicised move to Kaizer Chiefs in 2015 but proved to be a flop at Naturena. He’s now a bench-warmer at Maritzburg.
Midfielder: Ayanda Patosi (Cape Town City)
Patosi, 24, was poached by KSC Lokeren as a budding star at the African Soccer Development Academy in 2011. The midfielder spent five seasons at the Belgian Pro League club before Cape Town City came calling. He signed for ‘The Citizens’ in June.
Striker: Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United)
He had one season under his belt playing overseas following his stint at Goztepe SK in Turkey between 2011 and 2012. He joined Goztepe from Platinum Stars as a 24-year-old.
Upon his return home, he linked with Ajax Cape Town before joining SuperSport United in 2013.