One of the things to love about the English Premier League is that it’s a national league that gathers players from all over the world. Over the last few decades, players from far-away places have added their talent and skill to the pool of football excellence that’s England’s top-tier league, even from places half a world away – like South Africa. There is currently only one active South African player in the EPL today, but there were quite a few in the past.
Lyle Foster (Burnley)
The 23-year-old forward started his professional career with the Orlando Pirates, which may not sound like a South African team (but it’s based in Orlando, a township in the Gauteng province of the country). After being scouted by AS Monaco in 2019, he played at Cercle Brugge, Guimaraes, and Westerlo before ending up at Burnley this year. He has only played 18 matches with the team but has already scored four times.
He is currently sidelined because of a mental health issue, but South African and English fans alike eagerly await his return to the turf.
Percy Tau (Brighton & Hove Albion)
When Percy Tau steps on the turf, South African bettors immediately head over to onlinegamblingsa.co.za to check out the odds. Tau joined Brighton after a successful career with the Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa’s top football team. He only played a handful of games with the club, having spent most of his time there on loan at various Belgian clubs. Ultimately, the South African forward left Europe for Africa – he currently plays as a forward at Al Ahly.
Steven Pienaar (Everton, Tottenham, Sunderland)
Pienaar played at some of the biggest European teams, including ten seasons in the Premier League. After five seasons with Ajax, he first joined Everton on loan from Borussia Dortmund in 2007, a contract made permanent in 2008. In 2011, he left for Tottenham but later returned to Everton on loan. Finally, he joined Sunderland in 2016, along with manager David Moyes. In 2017, he returned to South Africa for a season and retired at its end.
He is currently the trainee coach at Ajax’s youth academy.
Quinton Fortune (Manchester United)
Born in Cape Town in 1977, Fortune joined Tottenham’s youth academy in 1991. Upon graduating, he spent a few years in Spain, playing with Mallorca and Atlético before returning to England. He spent seven years at Old Trafford, playing mostly on rotation as a midfielder and defender.
Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers)
Mokoena spent his formative years with South African team Jomo Cosmos and German giants Bayer Leverkusen. Upon turning senior, he joined Ajax in 1999, he was loaned twice to Antwerp-based team Beerschot and did a two-year stint at Genk. He joined Blackburn Rovers in 2005, making his debut in an FA Cup match against Cardiff City. He appeared in a total of 101 matches with the team, playing in the midfield and defence.
At the end of his career with the Rovers, he left for Portsmouth and finally returned to South Africa to finish his career with Bidvest Wits.
The English Premier League is a melting pot of football talent from all over the world, even from as far as South Africa. These players left their mark in the EPL already, and hopefully, their footsteps will be followed by more talented youngsters in the years to come.
