Do SA players still earn their jersey numbers?

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Do SA players still earn their jersey numbers?

Sep 21, 2026 – 11:17 am
By Chad Nagel

Years ago, wearing the number 10 Bafana Bafana jersey was a major responsibility. Nowadays, the decision of who wears which number is more administrative than genuinely earned. That was a central debate on the latest episode of The Carwash Podcast.

Teko Modise, Brighton Mhlongo, Linda Mntambo, and Delmain Faver were joined by mystery guest Roger Feutmba to probe the topic.

Modise, aka Don, gave an anecdote about how seriously jersey numbers were treated when he was growing up.

He said there was a clear hierarchy, with certain numbers only worn by players who had earned that honour through exceptional talent.

This system was recognised at the time, Modise added, and even the fans understood what it meant to bear that number.

Feutmba drew on his time at Mamelodi Sundowns to emphasise this point.

The Cameroonian legend explained that when he signed for the PSL giants, he could not remember who had worn the 10 jersey before him.

He simply asked for the number, which he had consistently worn as a skilled playmaker, and the club agreed that he could have it.

Feutmba explained that for his generation, the number was recognised for having a certain kind of responsibility, which he readily took on.

“You had to think about the whole team, that generosity to make sure you don’t think about [yourself], to make sure that you give the tempo and you give the direction in the game.”

While the panel did not state outright that the tradition has gone away, the framing of the discussion seemed to suggest that jersey numbering does not have the same meaning as it used to.

Modise reiterated this by mentioning the pride and prominence players used to have as #6, #8, #10, and #11 on the field.

In a PSL context, and even looking more broadly at Bafana Bafana, the question is whether number significance should be used to shape team identities, or if the game has moved beyond that.