Luther Singh joins list of Bafana Bafana players who waited years for a return

Luther Singh’s return to Bafana Bafana after a five-year absence has highlighted the long roads back to international football faced by several former overseas-based South African players.

The 29-year-old, who now plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, was considered one of the country’s brightest young prospects a decade ago. Although his career has included flashes of quality, it has not developed as many expected.

Singh still has time to make a significant contribution to the national team. If he can maintain his form, he could yet feature at several major tournaments for South Africa.

Dean Furman

Furman was first called up by Bafana Bafana for a friendly against Australia in August 2008, while he was with Rangers in Scotland.

Despite that early selection, the midfielder had to wait more than four years to make his international debut. That came in a September 2012 friendly against Brazil.

Furman subsequently established himself as a regular for almost a decade. His international career took place during a difficult period for Bafana Bafana, but he was regarded as one of the team’s stronger performers during that time.

Pierre Issa

Pierre Issa returned to the national team set-up before the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, having not played for Bafana Bafana since the 2002 World Cup.

The defender remains a divisive figure among South African supporters. He is also frequently, but incorrectly, said to have scored two own goals in Bafana Bafana’s 3-0 defeat by France in their opening match of the 1998 World Cup. In fact, he was responsible for one own goal.

Issa was recalled by Ted Dumitru, who coached South Africa at the tournament. However, he never played for the national team again after Bafana Bafana were eliminated without scoring a goal.

Mark Fish

Mark Fish remains a Bafana Bafana legend after helping South Africa win the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. However, he might have won considerably more than his 62 caps had doubts over his commitment to international duty not emerged during the prime of his career.

Fish ended a three-year absence from the national team when he returned ahead of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. At the time, he was playing for Charlton Athletic in England.

South Africa failed to progress beyond the group stage at that tournament. Fish retired from professional football the following year, aged 31.