Fare Thee Well, Bafana Bafana Legend Phil Masinga

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa- Former South Africa Bafana Bafana star Philemon 'Chippa' Masinga died Sunday aged 49 in a Johannesburg hospital from cancer, the national football association said in a statement.

"We have lost a giant of South African football," said football association president Danny Jordaan. "This is a sad day and I am gutted.

"I saw him last Sunday before I flew to Dakar (for Confederation of African Football activities) and although Phil was not feeling well, he was in good spirits.

"Before saying goodbye, I promised 'Chippa' that I would visit him again sometime this week and now our hero is gone."

A physically formidable forward, he scored the goal that beat Congo Brazzaville 1-0 in Soweto and took Bafana Bafana (The Boys) to the 1998 World Cup in France.

Masinga ran on to a pass from midfield and slammed an unstoppable shot over the Congolese goalkeeper before a capacity 80,000 crowd, including then president Nelson Mandela. 

Masinga was part of the South African 'golden generation' that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations just four years after an apartheid-induced international ban was lifted.

Bafana qualified for the 1998 and 2002 World Cup tournaments, but the national team has been in steady decline since.  

He played for local clubs Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns before moving abroad in 1994 to join Leeds United, then a top-flight English club.

Masinga also played for St Gallen in Switzerland, Salernitana and Bari in Italy and Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates. 

The SAFA said Masinga died in a Johannesburg hospital from a 'cancer related disease' having been diagnosed with cancer just last month when he was transferred from a hospital in his home town of Klerksdorp to the hospital in Johannesburg. 

Leeds mourn

Masinga played in the Premier League for the Yorkshire club for two years between 1994 and 1996 after joining from Mamelodi Sundowns, who play in South Africa's Premier Soccer League.

Championship side Leeds revealed the news on Sunday morning, writing on Twitter: 'It is with great sadness that the club has learnt of former striker Phil Masinga's passing. The thoughts of everyone at #LUFC are with his family and friends.'

Leeds manager at the time Howard Wilkinson signed Masinga and countryman Lucas Radebe. Masinga joined Swiss outfit St Gallen in 1996 and later moved to Italian sides Salernitana and Bari.

Masinga started his career at South African outfit Jomo Cosmos in 1990 and hung up his boots 12 years later while playing for Abu Dhabi side Al-Wahda.

He won 58 caps and scored 18 goals for his country, including the memorable strike against Congo which sent South Africa to the World Cup for the first time.

Masinga was also a part of the South African side that lifted the African Nations Cup on home soil in 1996.

Tributes have poured in for the ex-Leeds forward, who notched five goals in 31 league matches for the club.

"He lost his fight against cancer this morning which is very, very sad for us as a football fraternity,' Radebe told the BBC.

"We are mourning the loss of a great legend. 'For us as Africans it was a great experience," Radebe told BBC World Service about their spell at Leeds. 

"We weren't used to the weather and we struggled a little bit - we kept each other warm at times. Phil was a big hit with the team and the players. I looked up to him and I think he inspired me the most. It was absolutely great the way he adapted to the situation. He was easy to get along with and he was most respected at the club as a person," the former Leeds and Bafana captain mourned.

Masinga's former team-mate at Elland Road Noel Whelan wrote on Twitter: "Really sad news to learn that a guy I spent so much time with, laughs and games together has passed away, he was not just a friend and strike partner but one of the nicest kindest guys I've met, was a pleasure and privilege to have known and played with you Phil, always in my heart."

Compatriot and former Everton FC star, Steven Pienaar added: "Very sad news for South African football, we lost a true football legend in Phil 'Chippa' Masinga. He paved the way for all South African footballers in the UK. That goal at Fnb stadium that took us to our 1st World Cup will always be on my mind. Legend."

-Additional reporting by the Daily Mail