Phil Massinga: South Africa mourns the legendary "legend" that led them to the World Cup

Former South African captain Lucas Radebe lamented 49-year-old forward Phil Massinga, who said his country had lost a football legend.

Striker Phil Massinga led South Africa (boys and his fans) to their 1998 Cup debut.

Radebe and Massinga both worked for Leeds United between 1994 and 1996. Massinga also played for clubs in St. Gallen in Switzerland and clubs in Salernitana and Bari.

"He lost his fight against cancer, which is very sad for us as a brother on the football field," said Radebe.

"We think the party is losing a big legend."

South African captain Senzo Mayewa is in Johannesburg

A big change in the ranks of South Africa

South Africa and Cape Verde are linked to the opening of the Africa Cup of Nations

"For us Africans, it was a great experience," Radebe told BBC News. "We did not get used to the weather and we suffered a little, sometimes helping each other to warm us up."

"Massinga has had great success with the team and the players," said the former South African defender. "I respected him and I think he inspired me.

"It was easy to manage and was the most respected club as a person."

Haddad in the South African league

Massinga began his career in South Africa in July 1992 and played his first match against Cameroon after the lifting of the international ban and his return to football after the end of the 1930s. apartheid.

We are best remembered as an offensive goal against the Congo, which led South Africa to qualify for the first time in the World Cup and which was in France in 1998.

We lost a true football legend embodied in Phil Massinga, "said midfielder Everton and South Africa's Stephen Pienaar.

"He paved the way for all South African footballers to be professional in Britain, and the dismissal that led us to the first World Cup will always remain in my memory."

Massinga was also part of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.

"It's a sad day for football in South Africa," said South African Football Federation President Danny Jordan. "He was a loyal servant of the game, both inside and outside the field."

The South African Premier League said that there would be a minute of silence in every Sunday match, paying tribute to the former striker.

Massinga played 31 Premier League matches with Leeds, scoring five goals.

The English club issued a statement in which it denounced the former striker and said: "It was a very sad news of the death of former striker Phil Masinga".