Yeye to join illustrious '50 Club'

Cape Town - With 49 caps to his name, Reneilwe Letsholonyanehe could become the 25th player to earn 50 caps for the national side. 

He reached his 49th cap last Saturday when he came on as a substitute in Bafana Bafana's 2-0 victory over Congo in Pointe Noire.

The 32-year old was the most-capped player in the current Bafana Bafana squad, followed by Tokelo Rantie with 23 and Dean Furman on 21.

Letsholonyane's first international match was a friendly against Malawi in September 2008.

"It seems like yesterday, but it hasn't been an easy ride," he said.

"Every journey has its challenges and its no different to me being part of the national team. But I managed to overcome them and that is why I am still here, and I am glad I am here."

He scored his first of two goals in a Bafana jersey two years later against Guatemala. The second came against Swaziland in 2013.

Letsholonyanehe will join 24 other South Africans in the exclusive "50 Club". 

South African players capped 50 times or more for Bafana Bafana:

107 - Aaron Mokoena
88 - Siphiwe Tshabalala
81 - Siyabonga Nomvete
80 - Benni McCarthy
74 - Shaun Bartlett
73 - John Moshoeu
73 - Delron Buckley
70 - Lucas Radebe
68 - Bernard Parker
67 - Sibusiso Zuma, Andre Arendse 
66 - Teko Modise, Helman Mkhalele
64 - Itumeleng Khune
62 - Steven Pienaar, Mark Fish, Macbeth Sibaya
58 - Phil Masinga
54 - Kagisho Dikgacoi, Siboniso Gaxa
52 - Neil Tovey
51 - Tsepo Masilela
50 - Doctor Khumalo, Katlego Mphela