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Goalkeepers
16-Andre Arendse (Santos) Born 27.6.67
Tall goalkeeper injured in France just before the start of the last World Cup finals. Last week named as South Africa's Footballer of the Year after helping Santos to win the country's premier league. Played in the South African side that won the 1996 African Nations Cup finals on home soil. Had a three-year stint in England, first as back up at Fulham and then at Oxford United.

20-Calvin Marlin (Ajax Cape Town) Born 20.4.76
Secured his place in the squad after sparing South Africa's blushes with a save in the post-match penalty shootout that allowed Bafana Bafana to progress past the first round of the regional Cosafa Castle Cup at the expense of lowly Botswana. Has carved out a reputation over the last two seasons in South Africa's premier league.

1-Hans Vonk (SC Heerenveen) Born 30.1.70 .
Born near Johannesburg to Dutch parents, returning to Europe while still a baby. Discovered by a South African soccer magazine but it took officials two years to be persuaded he might be a solid proposition in the South African goal. Debut two months before the 1998 World Cup finals, where he played in all three of South Africa's matches.

Defenders
3-Bradley Carnell (VfB Stuttgart) Born 21.1.77
Left-back who was the first player to represent South Africa at all levels, from under-17, under-20, under-23 and then into the senior side. Also held the record as the youngest player in South Africa's professional league, debuting at 16 for Wits University. Signed by current Cameroon coach Winfried Schafer for Stuttgart.

13-Pierre Issa (Watford) Born 11.9.75
Did not play any club football for his first division team in England after returning from the African Nations Cup finals in February but still considered experienced enough to be chosen for the South African World Cup squad. Spent six months on loan at Chelsea last year from French club Marseille but also did not play a single game. In addition to South African citizenship, is also a national of France and Lebanon.
 
5-Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow) Born 24.3.77
A knee injury kept him out of this year's Nations Cup finals in Mali but he was a last minute inclusion in the World Cup squad after injury to central defender Matthew Booth. A left-sided player, Lekgetho has attracted attention from clubs in Italy and Germany after fine performances for his Russian club in the UEFA Champions League last year. Won his first cap against Malta in 2000 while still on the books of Moroka Swallows.

4-Aaron Mokoena (Germinal Beerschot) Born 25.11.80
Youngest player to appear for South Africa in a full international, debuting aged 18 in 1999. Seen as the natural successor to Lucas Radebe in the heart of defence, although his form for Bafana Bafana has been far better than at club level, where he struggles to hold down a first team place at his modest Belgian employers.

22-Thabang Molefe (Jomo Cosmos) Born 11.4.79
Tough-tackling defender who has spent a lot of time on the wrong side of referees. Was sent off in his second international for a brutal two-footed tackle. Could sneak into the starting line-up at right back but might still be considered inexperienced since he only made his international debut in March.

2-Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs) Born 26.6.74
Versatile player, adept at right back or in the centre of defence. Helped his club win three cup titles this season, including the African Cup Winners' Cup trophy in December but lost his place in the South African squad through injury after playing 11 successive games, including a fair chunk of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

19-Lucas Radebe (Leeds United) Born 12.4.69
Captain of Bafana Bafana, who has fought his way back into the team after being sidelined since March last year with career-threatening injuries. His appearance for South Africa in the friendly against Madagascar in May was his first match back for the team in 17 months and he now holds the joint record for the most number of caps.

Midfielders
18-Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum) Born 7.12.77
Spent all his playing career in Germany but was captain of South Africa's under-17 side before joining Bochum. Given a first cap on the eve of the World Cup finals in 1998 and then played in the tournament in France. His form vacillates from one extreme to another, frustrating a succession of coaches who have worked with him.

7-Quinton Fortune (Manchester United) Born 21.5.77
Teenage prodigy once described by former England manager Terry Venables as the best young player he had seen. Started at Venables's former English top flight club Tottenham Hotspur but left before being offered professional terms, playing at Real Mallorca and Atletico Madrid before impressing Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in a trial at Old Trafford.

8-Thabo Mngomeni (Orlando Pirates) Born 24.6.69
Dreadlocked midfielder who won his first cap at the age of 29. Captained Pirates to the South African championship last season but this term was banned for six months for attempting to attack a referee in a league match at the start of the campaign. Has also served as captain of the South African team.

10-Bennett Mnguni (Lokomotiv Moscow) Born 18.3.74
Another player who peaked at a late age, making his professional debut in his mid-20s and going on to impress with his midfield work rate. Named as one of the three finalists for the best player of last year's African Champions League campaign, where he reached the final with Pretoria club Mamelodi Sundowns before moving to Russia in February.

12-Teboho Mokoena (St Gallen) Born 10.7.74
A surprise omission from South Africa's squad that went to the Nations Cup finals in Mali earlier this year. Scored for his Swiss club in this year's UEFA Cup after joining them from Johannesburg's Jomo Cosmos. Also had a brief spell in Turkish league soccer.

9-MacDonald Mukansi (Lokomotiv Sofia) Born 26.5.1975
Former junior athletics champion who has incredible pace down the wing but lacks consistency. Brought back into the squad after a two-year absence following the disappointment of South Africa's quarter-final exit at the Nations Cup finals. Previously played in Cyprus and with five clubs in South Africa's premier league.

21-Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam) Born 17.3.82
Teenage prodigy who helped Ajax win the league and cup 'double' in the Netherlands this season and made the World Cup squad without a single international appearance. Finally made his full international debut on May 23 when South Africa beat Turkey 2-0 in Hong Kong.

11-Jabu Pule (Kaizer Chiefs) Born 11.7.80
Skilful yet diminutive player who earlier in May was named as South African Players' Player of the Year. Scored on his debut at the start of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and last year helped his club Kaizer Chiefs win the African Cup Winners' Cup. Has a high profile reputation in South Africa's tabloid press for his high jinx off the field.

6-MacBeth Sibaya (Jomo Cosmos) Born 25.11.77
Debuted for South Africa in the World Cup qualifier in Malawi in February last year but then ignored right up until the Nations Cup in Mali, where he was a surprise inclusion in the squad. Strong tackler who is also a handy fill-in at the centre of defence should he be required.

15-Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen) Born 23.6.75
Exciting right winger who has catapulted himself into the focus of many of Europe's leading clubs with his performances in European club competition for FC Copenhagen over the last eight months. Already acclaimed as player of the year in Denmark, he is likely to make a high profile move after the World Cup.

Forwards
23-George Koumantarakis (Basle) Born 27.11.74
Surprise selection for the World Cup squad almost two years after his last international. But the Greek-born front man did win the Swiss championship this season with FC Basle and before he left South Africa in 1999 had won a league championship medal and finished as the premier league' s leading goalscorer.

17-Benni McCarthy (Porto) Born 12.11.77
Looking to revive his career after several seasons of stagnation on the bench at Spain's Celta Vigo, and goes into the World Cup full of confidence after 12 goals in as many games on loan at FC Porto for the last six months of the season. Scored at the last World Cup finals against his boyhood hero Peter Schmeichel of Denmark.

14-Siyabonga Nomvete (Udinese) Born 2.12.77
Sold to Udinese last season by Kaizer Chiefs but has only forced his way into the first team since November. Very fast and tricky player who will be key to all South Africa's hopes of getting past the first round at the World Cup for the first time. Former winner of South Africa's Footballer of the Year award.