SOUTH AFRICA

Away 1998

Matchworn John Moshoeu 11.02.1998 (Africa Cup) CIV 🇨🇮 : ZAF 🇿🇦 1-1

Manufacturer: Kappa

Source: Former player

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Here you can read about my ramblings on the history of South African football and the countless variations of their iconic Kappa jersey.

I have been a big fan of South Africa's „hot mess“ of a jersey, ever since I first saw them wearing it in a friendly against Germany in 1995 (and again in 1997).

Worn between 1993 and 1998, there have been numerous different versions of the design.

The “Bafana Bafana” wore their golden home jersey at least 53 times in a row before switching to a green away version of the shirt for exactly one game during the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations.

When I first saw a picture of the green jersey, it was clear: I absolutely had to own a specimen of this rare piece of polyester!

But a jersey of which there are perhaps only 20 copies in existence doesn’t just pop up in an eBay search every day.

So I had to wait many years before I saw pictures of one for the first time — and one that was actually for sale.

About a week later, I finally got to hold this holy grail in my hands!

Unlike the shiny (and slightly sticky) fabric of my 1997 home jersey, the green away jersey (as well as the corresponding home jersey) is made of a rather “cheap” fabric, with the badges unfortunately just sublimated into the fabric. Unlike previous versions, it features a South African flag centered on the collar.

A highlight is certainly the bright orange flock for the number and name, which was added specifically for the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team lost 0-2 to Egypt in the final. It was worn during the group stage match against Ivory Coast by John Moshoeu, who sadly passed away far too young.

Moshoeu gifted the jersey to a teammate during his time at Fenerbahçe, through whom the shirt eventually found its way into my collection.

South Africa wearing the green away shirt for the first and only time during an Africa Cup match against Côte d'Ivoire in 1998.