From Diski to Destiny: The DStv Diski Challenge Fuelling Bafana Bafana’s Golden Era

As Bafana Bafana ignites the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations™ (AFCON) in Morocco, the true heartbeat of South African football is on full display: an incredible 18 out of the 25 players in Hugo Broos’ squad are proud graduates of the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC).

This isn’t just a number; it is a true impact. MultiChoice, a CANAL+ Company, has impacted sport across Africa in ways that resonate globally, and the DStv Diski Challenge is living proof thereof.

The DStv Diski Challenge is the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) developmental and reserve league, a first in African football.

The league was the brainchild of the Chairman of the PSL, Dr Irvin Khoza, coupled with the vision of Imtiaz Patel. The DStv Diski Challenge serves as the feeder league for the PSL, Africa’s richest league, and has, since its 2014 inception, produced more than 310 young players who have been promoted to PSL first teams.

Marking 11 years since its inception and its evolution from the MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC), the DDC has cemented its status as the ultimate "Development Training Ground".

It is the very stage where raw talent is forged into international steel, proving that the pathway from development to the global stage is stronger than ever.

PSL Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza said: “Exactly ten years ago 14 MultiChoice Diski Challenge players were selected for the U/20 Commonwealth Games in St. Petersburg. In the 2025 AFCON in Morocco no fewer than 18 DStv Diski players are representing the country.

“Diski has become a space to play competitively in preparation for the big stage. It is not a coincidence that the PSL is now awash with an abundance of talent.”

“Thanks to MultiChoice and Canal+ for their belief and nurturing the vision,” concluded Khoza.

A Pipeline of Excellence

The results of this developmental powerhouse are currently lighting up the scoreboard in Morocco.

Bafana Bafana have stormed through to the Round of 16 stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, having recorded two out of three wins in the group stages of the tournament, further solidifying their status as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

The squad reads like a DDC Hall of Fame. From the clinical edge of Lyle Foster—now the nation’s most expensive player and one of the leading goal contributors in the group stage in Morocco —to the defensive grit of Mbekezeli Mbokazi, the safe hands of Ricardo Goss, and the electrifying flair of Relebohile Mofokeng.

Mbokazi, nicknamed “TLB” for his uncompromising defence and powerful ball-striking, has set tongues wagging in North Africa during AFCON after stellar displays and earned himself a move to the USA’s Major League Soccer team, Chicago Fire, from African Giants, Orlando Pirates.

These stars, along with the likes of Oswin Apollis, Siyabonga Ngezana, and Sipho Chaine, didn't just appear on the world stage; they were methodically built in the DDC.

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‘A Highway to the World Stage’

For the MultiChoice family, this represents more than just a sponsorship; it is a legacy of nation-building.

"To see 18 out of 25 Bafana Bafana players having walked the DDC pitches is a moment of immense pride for us," says Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director: Content, Sport (English & Portuguese-speaking Africa).

"When we introduced this development league in conjunction with the PSL 11 years ago, our vision was to create a bridge between youth potential and senior success. Today, that bridge is a highway to the world stage."

Since 2014, it has served as a critical platform for aspiring youngsters to gain professional experience, bridging the gap between academy football and the Betway Premiership.

"The DStv Diski Challenge is the vital cog in the machinery of South African football. It provides the competitive minutes and the tactical discipline that players need to transition to the highest level,” said Ramovha.

“Seeing this 'Diski Generation' do well at AFCON and secure World Cup qualification proves that when you invest in development, you aren't just building a league—you’re contributing to a winning nation. The Diski Challenge is a testament to the level of growth in sport that MultiChoice has been able to enact on the continent beyond our broadcasting mandate."

The World Cup Connection

The impact of the DDC stretches beyond the African continent. Earlier this year, South Africa secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

AmaZulu FC coach Arthur Zwane recently highlighted that this is arguably South Africa’s youngest-ever squad to qualify for a World Cup—a feat he credits directly to the strength of the reserve league.

"We should be proud as a nation and thank the coach for giving the youngsters a chance," Zwane told the media in October.

"Probably 80 per cent of the national team played in the DDC. We need to give the PSL credit for strengthening the reserve league. DStv deserves credit... DDC does a lot for this country."

The Next Wave

The production line shows no signs of slowing down. As Bafana Bafana hunts for continental glory in Morocco, the next generation is already making waves.

Prospects like Samukelo Kabini (signed by Molde in Norway), Mohau Nkota, Malibongwe Khoza, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Mfundo Vilakazi are living proof that the DDC remains the most fertile soil for footballing talent in Africa.

As the tournament in Morocco progresses, one thing is certain: the spirit of the Diski Challenge is alive in every pass, every tackle, and every goal scored by the national team.

DStv Diski Challenge Graduates in Bafana Bafana's AFCON Squad:

GOALKEEPERS
Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC)
Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates)

DEFENDERS
Tylon Smith (Queen’s Park Rangers, England)
Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates)
Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy)
Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania)
Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK, Denmark)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates)

MIDFIELDERS
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates)

FORWARDS
Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates)
Mohau Nkota (Al-Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia)
Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates)
Lyle Foster (Burnley, England)
Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates)
Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)