Former Bafana Bafana skipper Neil Tovey has showered the late John Moeti with praise for playing a massive role in South African football.
Tovey, who led the national side to their 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations glory on homesoil, said Moeti was a classy player and provided immense quality off the bench.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defender and Mamelodi Sundowns coach said the late Orlando Pirates legend made the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning side so strong.
Moeti was on the fringes of the aspect of coach Clive Barker’s team that made history by lifting the trophy on home soil two years after democracy for Bafana’s lone international title.
“You obviously know that slowly but surely it will happen and we’ll lose members of that squad, but whenever there is news like that it’s not nice to hear, obviously,” Tovey said per TimesLIVE.
“He was more of a squad member in 1996 but that was what made that team so successful.
“First, you could never rest on your laurels with players in the squad like him. All those guys like Zane Moosa pushed a very strong midfield of Doctor (Khumalo), Shoes (Moshoeu), Linda (Buthelezi), and Eric (Tinkler).
“John was sort of in-between the two [of the tough Buthelezi and Tinkler, and skillful Khumalo and Moshoeu. He was very hard-working and also skillful. Obviously not as skillful as Shoes and Doc but comfortable on the ball.
“You could bring him on and he’d close up shop, did the hard graft, and could keep the ball with his skill too.
“He was a gentleman, very quiet, though being the captain of Orlando Pirates you can’t be too quiet.
“Look, he was quiet-ish to himself but would say things if they needed to be said about tactics of the squad.”
Moeti was born in Soweto on August 30, 1967, his death on Monday morning was confirmed by his family and the South African Football Association (Safa).
The CAF Champions League winner with the Buccaneers became the fourth member of the 1996 squad to pass away in the early hours on Monday after an eight-month illness. His death follows the likes of Sizwe Motaung, striker Phil “Chippa” Masinga, and Moshoeu.
Main Image: Neil Tovey & John Moet/TimesLIVE
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