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Five greatest Congolese players in PSL history

football16 July 2020 11:37| © Backpage TXT
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Kabamba Musasa © Gallo Images

African football mourned the death of former Kaizer Chiefs striker Emeka Mamale, who passed away late last month.

The former DR Congo international is one of the many Congolese players, who have graced the Premier Soccer League (PSL) since the competition's inception in 1996.

The nomadic marksman had short spells with both Chiefs and Qwa Qwa Stars (Free State Stars), before moving abroad and also had a brief stint with the now-defunct Platinum Stars.

We take a look at the top five Congolese players to play in the South African top-flight league.

FRANCIS CHANSA

The retired acrobatic goalkeeper arrived in the country in 1996 and he had stints with lower division clubs Durban Bush Bucks, Durban United and Royal Tigers.

Chansa got his big break in the PSL at Lamontville Golden Arrows in 2000 and he established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the country before moving to Orlando Pirates in 2004.

Known for his agility, the former DR Congo international spent four years with Pirates as the first-choice goalkeeper and he helped the team reach the 2006 Absa Cup (Nedbank Cup) and 2007 SAA Supa 8 Cup (MTN8) finals.

He had a stint with Santos FC in the 2008/09 season before moving to Bidvest Wits where he won the 2010 Nedbank Cup and he retired in 2012 after short spells with Mpumalanga Black Aces and Maritzburg United.

BUNENE NGADUANE

The legendary Congolese striker had a successful spell with Free State Stars prior to the PSL era as he inspired the team to the 1994 Coca Cola Cup (Telkom Knockout Cup) triumph.

Ngaduane returned to South Africa and he rejoined Stars following a spell with Turkish club Ankaragücü midway through the inaugural PSL season and he re-established himself as a key player at Ea Lla Koto.

The powerful marksman was one of the most lethal strikers in the PSL as he scored 11 goals for Stars during the 1997/98 season, before hitting the back of the net 15 times in the following campaign.

Ngaduane spent the 2000/01 season with Moroka Swallows in the twilight of his career and he had stints with lower division clubs Spartak and Luso Africa before he hung up his boots in 2005.

FELIX MWAMBA MUSASA

The former DR Congo international was snapped up by Orlando Pirates in 2003 after he impressed while playing for Congolese giants TP Mazembe.

Known for wearing white gloves during games, Musasa spent two campaigns with Bucs and he was part of the team which narrowly missed out on the PSL title to Kaizer Chiefs by two points during the 2004/05 season.

Musasa went on to turn out for lower division side Polokwane City Pillars, whose name was changed to Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2007 and he led the team to the 2008 Nedbank Cup final where they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns as the club captain.

Before leading the team to PSL promotion from the National First Division Division (NFD) in 2009 and he played two seasons in the top flight league before playing for lower-division club Garankuwa United in 2015 and he has since hang-up his boots.

BLAISE LELO MBELE

The skillful striker burst into the South African football scene during the 2004/05 season while playing for Zulu Royals (AmaZulu FC) in the National First Division (NFD).

Mbele was snapped by Orlando Pirates as a 17-year-old sensation in July 2005 and he helped the team reach the 2006 Absa Cup final where they narrowly lost to Kaizer Chiefs on penalties.

Blessed with mesmerizing dribbling skills, Mbele was Pirates' star player as they reached the semi-finals of the 2006 CAF Champions League as he scored two crucial goals in the group stage.

Mbele scored seven goals in the league as Pirates were narrowly beaten to the PSL title by Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2005/06 season and he left Bucs for Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien in July 2007 and he has been a journeyman since then.

KABAMBA MUSASA

The well-traveled marksman is the most decorated Congolese player in the history of the PSL having had a successful spell with Kaizer Chiefs between 2002 and 2005.

Musasa, who had joined Amakhosi from Congolese side Saint Eloi Lupopo in August 2002, helped the Soweto giants clinch the PSL title and two Coca Cola Cups (Telkom Knockout Cup) as an impact player.

A lethal left-footed striker, Musasa, whose older brother is Felix Mwamba Musasa, left Chiefs for Turkish outfit Istanbulspor midway through the 2004/05 season, but he returned to South Africa and he had stints with Maritzburg United and Mpumalanga Black Aces between 2006 and 2008.

Musasa was part of the Aces side which lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2008 Nedbank Cup final and he returned to Europe after agreeing to join Israeli club Maccabi Herzliya ahead of the 2008/09 season.

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