Diski graduates shine for Bafana

The DStv Diski Challenge was well represented in the new-look Bafana Bafana look that downed Uganda in an international friendly on Thursday night.

After seven seasons since the DStv Diski Challenge, formerly known as Multichoice Diski Challenge, was incepted, an impressive talent came through the initiative.

Diski graduate Evidence Makgopa, who had his first entire season as a senior team player at Baroka FC, historically started his international career scoring a brace for Bafana when they defeated Uganda 3-2.

Makgopa was not named in the original squad by Bafana but was roped in after Percy Tau was ruled out due to a Covid-19 infection.

He came from the bench to net two second-half goals to follow in the footsteps of Katlego Mphela, who scored twice on his debut against Seychelles in the 2005 COSAFA Cup.

Maritzburg United was another Diski Graduate who netted on his international team debut. He was also on the score sheet.

In total, there were eight Diski graduates in the squad for the Uganda clash. Six of them [Nkosinathi Sibisi, Siphelele Mkhulise, Sibusiso Mabiliso, Darwin Farmer, Lebohang Maboe and Bongokuhle Hlongwane] started the match. In contrast, the other two [Makgopa and Bruce Bvuma] started on the bench.

Lebohang Maboe

Mamelodi Sundowns star midfield Lebohang Maboe was part of the Maritzburg United Diski team in 2016. His impressive displays in the Diski saw him being rewarded with a first-team contract. At the first team level with The Team of Choice, he impressed in his debut season after being promoted from the and was subsequently handed a Bafana Bafana call-up for the 2017 Cosafa Cup.

He proved that his debut campaign exploits were no flukes. He netted in the equaliser in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal against SuperSport United. Maboe was one of the star performers in a historic season for Maritzburg when they finished their highest PSL position and reached a first-ever cup final when they competed in the Nedbank Cup final against Free State Stars. In August 2018, he joined Sundowns, and he has become one of Sundowns’ consistent performers.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane

The 20-year-old striker once again proved his pedigree after a superb debut performance for Bafana in their 3-2 victory over Uganda. Hlongwane burst on the scene under Eric Tinkler and continued where he left off with Ernst Middenddorp during the 2020-2021 campaign. The lanky striker is among players who cut their teeth in the Diski Challenge. The proven goalscorer was part of the Maritzburg Diski team in the 2018-19 season. His contribution to the Diski team, where he scored every week, saw him promoted to the first team. Moreover, he played a key role when the Team of Choice retained their PSL status in the relegation play-offs.

Nkosinathi Sibisi

Before being promoted to the first team in the 2019-20 season, Sibisi had spent three seasons playing for Golden Arrows in the Diski Challenge. Then, he captained the young Abafana Bes’thende to two championships, including trips to the Netherlands and Spain. Since he was promoted, the central defender has become a key member of the Arrows line-up.

Evidence Makgopa

The budding Baroka striker seems to have what it takes to be one of the leading centre-forwards in the country. The lad from GaMampa village, near Burgersfort in Limpopo, was promoted from Bakgaga’s MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) in January last year.

After spending just one season playing for Bakgaga in the Diski Challenge, having joined the club in 2018, despite Baroka’s poor displays in Diski Challenge in the 2018-19 season, Makgopa was impressive. His scoring abilities saw him being promoted to the first team. He scored impressive seven goals on his first season in the Diski Challenge 15 matches. As a result, he went on to the first team, where he continued with his impressive displays.

Bruce Bvuma

Kaizer Chiefs are known to be one of the best teams to produce goalkeepers, and Bvuma is one of those. In the 2016-17 season, the Leratong born kept goal in 12 of the 15 MDC matches. Amakhosi that season finished in the fourth spot on the log, sixth points behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns. He made his senior team debut in April 2017.

Sphelele Mkhulise

The well-travelled midfielder burst into the scenes in 2014-15, playing for Sundowns in the Diski Challenge alongside Khayelihle Shozi. He was instrumental in the Down competitive Diski team. Before making a senior debut at Downs, Mkhulise was loaned to First Division clubs Black Leopards and Richards Bay FC before coming back to be a regular at Downs.