Vukubi names Moshoeu, Nyathi and McCarthy among PSL’s greatest

Former striker Dennis Vukubi has selected John “Shoes” Moshoeu, David Nyathi and Benedict McCarthy as the three outstanding players of the Premier Soccer League’s 30-year history.

Vukubi was with Cape Town Spurs when the PSL was established in 1996, a period he remembers as the beginning of a new era for players in South African football.

“That was the season for us in Cape Town; we were psyched up to be footballers. The energy was 100%, we needed no motivation to play football,” Vukubi told KickOff.

“All we were excited for was to be part of the PSL. We started understanding our value.”

He also recalled the first time he saw McCarthy, who had joined Cape Town Spurs from Seven Stars. Vukubi was training alongside McCarthy’s older brother, Jerome, when he was introduced to the future striker.

“When Benedict McCarthy joined us from Seven Stars, I was standing next to his brother Jerome McCarthy at training. He said to me, ‘This is my younger brother.’ I said, ‘But he is so skinny, man. Are you sure he is going to handle playing in the PSL?’”

Jerome replied: “‘You will see.’”

Vukubi soon discovered that McCarthy’s build was no indication of his ability.

“We went for a finishing drill. After the drill, I had to go back to Jerome to apologise [laughs].”

For his first choice, Vukubi selected Moshoeu, whose technical ability and attacking qualities set him apart.

“The first best PSL player on my list is John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu. He was out of this world. He was in his own league,” he said.

“We talk talent, we talk vision, we talk dribbling, you talk speed, you talk technique – he had it all.”

Vukubi placed Nyathi second, describing the former left-back as South Africa’s most accomplished player.

“The second on my list is the most accomplished player in South Africa, David Nyathi. He played in the FIFA XI three times, benching who? Roberto Carlos. Nyathi is the best left-back ever [produced] in Africa.”

McCarthy completed his list, with Vukubi praising the striker’s finishing and suggesting he should pass on that expertise to the next generation.

“The third one is McCarthy. One of the finest finishers in Africa. I’m looking forward to meeting him one day; I want to ask him to start a finishing school for strikers. That boy was out of this world,” he added.

Vukubi later played for Kaizer Chiefs.