View source for Phil Masinga

{{Short description|South African soccer player and manager (1969–2019)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Phil Masinga
| image =
| full_name = Philemon Raul Masinga<ref name=Hugman0506>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hugman |editor1-first=Barry J |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |year=2005 |page=417 |isbn=978-1-85291-662-6}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1969|6|28|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|1|13|1969|6|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Klerksdorp]], South Africa
| death_place = [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
| height = {{convert|1.88|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/888/Philemon-Masinga/overview |title=Philemon Masinga: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = Khuma Flamengo
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = [[Kaizer Chiefs Football Club|Kaizer Chiefs]]
| years1 = 1990–1991 
| clubs1 = [[Jomo Cosmos]] 
| caps1 = 88
| goals1 = 23
| years2 = 1991–1994 
| clubs2 = [[Mamelodi Sundowns FC|Mamelodi Sundowns]] 
| caps2 = 108
| goals2 = 98
| years3 = 1994–1996 
| clubs3 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] 
| caps3 = 31
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 1996–1997 
| clubs4 = [[FC St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] 
| caps4 = 10
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1997 
| clubs5 = [[Salernitana Calcio 1919|Salernitana]] 
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 1997–2001 
| clubs6 = [[A.S. Bari|Bari]] 
| caps6 = 75
| goals6 = 24
| years7 = 2001–2002
| clubs7 = [[Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi)|Al-Wahda]] 
| caps7 = 
| goals7 = 
| totalcaps = 328
| totalgoals = 154
| nationalyears1 = 1992–2001
| nationalteam1 = [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]]
| nationalcaps1 = 58
| nationalgoals1 = 18 
| manageryears1 = 2006
| managerclubs1 = [[PJ Stars]]
}}
'''Philemon Raul Masinga''' (28 June 1969 – 13 January 2019) was a South African professional [[Association football|footballer]] and manager who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]] from 1990 to 2002. He was born in Khuma in the [[city of Matlosana]] formerly known as Klerksdorp Municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-21 |title=Phil Masinga: South African footballer who was part of a new era of sport after apartheid |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/phil-masinga-south-africa-footballer-dead-leeds-united-premier-league-obituary-a8731641.html |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

He played in the [[English Premier League]] for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], and [[Italian Serie A]] for [[Salernitana Calcio 1919|Salernitana]] and [[A.S. Bari|Bari]]. He also played for [[Jomo Cosmos]], [[Mamelodi Sundowns FC|Mamelodi Sundowns]] with his cousin [[Bennett Masinga]], [[FC St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] and [[Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi)|Al-Wahda]]. He represented South Africa in 58 international games, scoring 18 goals. In 2006, he briefly went into football management with [[PJ Stars]].

==Club career==
Masinga made his debut for [[Jomo Cosmos]] in 1990, before moving on to [[Mamelodi Sundowns FC|Mamelodi Sundowns]].<ref name="TSA">{{cite news |last1=Breakfast |first1=Siviwe |title=Former Bafana striker Phil Masinga hospitalised |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/former-bafana-striker-phil-masinga-hospitalised/ |access-date=13 January 2019 |work=The South African |date=12 December 2018}}</ref>

In 1994 he left for English Premier League club [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]; the deal that his agent Marcelo Houseman did with Leeds manager [[Howard Wilkinson]] also involved [[Lucas Radebe]] moving to Leeds from [[Kaizer Chiefs F.C.|Kaizer Chiefs]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smart |first1=Ryan |title=This is my hero |url=https://taleoftwohalves.uk/featured/hero-profiling-rise-lucas-radebe |website=Tale of Two Halves |date=6 August 2018 |access-date=13 January 2019}}</ref> He played in the English Premier League for two years, playing 31 games and scoring five goals, and also scored a hat-trick in an [[FA Cup]] tie against [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] on 17 January 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edy3/hattrick_heroes_286630/index.shtml |title=Hat-Trick Heroes – Leeds United FC – LeedsUtdMAD |publisher=Leedsunited-mad.co.uk |access-date=28 May 2012}}</ref>

Masinga moved to Switzerland with [[FC St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] in 1996, followed by spells in Italy with [[Salernitana Calcio 1919|Salernitana]] and [[A.S. Bari|Bari]].<ref name="ESPN">{{cite news |title=South Africa and Leeds United star Phil Masinga dies at 49 |url=http://www.espn.com.au/soccer/south-africa/story/3750155/south-africa-and-leeds-united-star-phil-masinga-dies-at-49 |access-date=13 January 2019 |publisher=ESPN |date=13 January 2019}}</ref> In 2001, a return to English Football with [[Coventry City]] fell through after he failed to secure a work permit,<ref>{{cite news |title=Masinga deal off |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/masinga-deal-off-3177689 |access-date=13 January 2019 |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=15 August 2001}}</ref> following which he moved to [[Al Wahda FC]] in [[Abu Dhabi]] where he completed his playing career.<ref name="ESPN" />

==International career==
Masinga made his international debut in July 1992 against Cameroon; this was South Africa's first match following readmission of the country to international football.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |title=Phil Masinga: Ex-Leeds and South Africa striker dies aged 49 |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46854891 |access-date=13 January 2019}}</ref>
In an [[African Cup of Nations]] qualifier versus [[Zambia national football team|Zambia]] in 1992, Masinga became the first South African ever to be sent off in an international match.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Said |first1=Nick |title=No stranger to seeing red |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/daily-dispatch/20150907/281784217864609 |access-date=13 January 2019 |newspaper=Daily Dispatch |date=7 August 2015}}</ref> He was in the [[Bafana Bafana]] side when South Africa won the [[African Cup of Nations]] in 1996 and when they finished second to [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] in the 1998 [[African Cup of Nations]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hadebe Sadze |title=Bafana Bafana legend Philemon Masinga has been hospitalised |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2018-12-12-bafana-bafana-legend-philemon-masinga-has-been-hospitalised/ |access-date=13 January 2019 |newspaper=The Sowetan |date=12 December 2018}}</ref> "Chippa", as he was affectionately known,<ref name="ZA24">{{cite news |title=SA soccer legend Phil 'Chippa' Masinga dies |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/BafanaBafana/sa-soccer-legend-phil-chippa-masinga-dies-20190113|access-date=13 January 2019 |publisher=Sport24 |date=13 January 2019}}</ref> scored the decisive goal in the 1997 game against the [[Congo national football team|Republic of the Congo]] that took South Africa to the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] in France.<ref name="BBC" />  He played 58 games for his country, scoring 18 goals.<ref name="TSA" />

==Managerial career==
In 2006, Masinga briefly coached [[PJ Stars]], a now-defunct third-division South African club.<ref name="TSA" />

==Death==
On 13 January 2019, Masinga died in [[Johannesburg]].<ref name="BBC" /><ref>{{Hugman|access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref> He had been admitted to hospital the previous month, due to cancer.<ref name="ZA24" /><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/14/phil-masinga-south-africa-leeds-premier-league-history|title =Phil Masinga: South Africa striker who made Premier League history with Leeds|date=14 January 2019|work=Guardian|access-date=17 January 2019}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Goal
!Date
!Venue
!Opponent
!Score
!Result
!Competition
|-
|1 ||11 July 1992 ||rowspan=2|[[FNB Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]], South Africa ||{{fb|CMR}} ||1–1 ||2–2 ||Friendly
|-
|2 ||24 October 1992 ||{{fb|CGO}} ||1–0 ||1–0 ||[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|3 ||25 July 1993 ||[[Anjalay Stadium|Sir Aneroid Jugnauth Stadium]], [[Belle Vue Maurel]], Mauritius ||{{fb|MRI}} ||3–0||3–0||[[1994 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
|4 ||24 April 1994 ||[[Mmabatho Stadium]], [[Mmabatho]], South Africa ||{{fb|ZIM}} ||1–0 ||1–0 ||Friendly
|-
|5 ||4 September 1994 ||[[Mahamasina Municipal Stadium]], [[Antananarivo]], Madagascar ||{{fb|MAD}} ||1–0 ||1–0 ||rowspan=2|[[1996 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
|6 ||15 October 1994 ||[[Odi Stadium]], [[Mabopane]], South Africa ||{{fb|MRI}} ||1–0 ||1–0
|-
|7 ||13 January 1996 ||rowspan=3|FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa ||{{fb|CMR}} ||1–0 ||3–0 ||[[1996 Africa Cup of Nations]]
|-
|8 ||24 April 1996 ||{{fb|BRA}} ||1–0 ||2–3 ||Friendly
|-
|9 ||9 November 1996 ||rowspan=2|{{fb|Zaire}} ||1–0 ||1–0 ||rowspan=2|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|10 ||27 April 1997 ||[[Stade Municipal (Lomé)|Stade Municipal]], [[Lomé|Lome]], Togo ||2–1 ||2–1
|-
|11 ||24 May 1997 ||[[Old Trafford]], [[Manchester]], England ||{{fb|ENG}} ||1–1 ||1–2 ||Friendly
|-
|12 ||8 June 1997 ||rowspan=2|FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa ||{{fb|ZAM}} ||2–0 ||3–0 ||rowspan=2| 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|13 ||16 August 1997 ||{{fb|CGO}} ||1–0 ||1–0
|-
|14 ||24 January 1998 ||[[Independence Stadium (Namibia)|Independence Stadium]], [[Windhoek]], South Africa ||{{fb|NAM}} ||2–1 ||2–3 ||[[1998 COSAFA Cup]]
|-
|15 ||23 January 1999 ||[[Stade George V|King George V Stadium]], [[Curepipe]], Mauritius||{{fb|MRI}} ||1–0 ||1–1 ||rowspan=2|[[2000 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
|16 ||27 February 1999 ||Odi Stadium, Mabopane, South Africa ||{{fb|GAB}} ||2–1 ||4–1
|-
|17 ||16 December 2000 ||FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa||{{fb|LBR}} ||2–0 ||2–1 ||[[2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
|18 ||25 February 2001 ||[[Chichiri Stadium]], [[Blantyre]], Malawi ||{{fb|MWI}} ||1–0 ||2–1 ||[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Jomo Cosmos'''
* [[Nedbank Cup]]: 1990

'''Mamelodi Sundowns'''
* [[National Soccer League (South Africa)|National Soccer League]]: [[1993 NSL First Division|1993]]

'''South Africa'''
* [[Africa Cup of Nations]]: [[1996 African Cup of Nations|1996]]; runner-up: [[1998 African Cup of Nations|1998]]

==See also==
*[[List of African association football families#South Africa|List of African association football families]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070823105443/http://www.klerksdorper.com/ Klerksdorper.com The Number One Internet Site for Klerksdorp]

{{Navboxes
|title=South Africa squads
| bg = #F7EB29
| fg = #006400
| bordercolor = #006400
|list1=
{{South Africa Squad 1996 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{South Africa Squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{South Africa Squad 1998 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{South Africa Squad 1998 World Cup}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Masinga, Phil}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Klerksdorp]]
[[Category:Soccer players from North West (South African province)]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:South African men's soccer players]]
[[Category:South Africa men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:South African expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:1996 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:1998 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Jomo Cosmos F.C. players]]
[[Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players]]
[[Category:Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. players]]
[[Category:Al Wahda FC players]]
[[Category:SSC Bari players]]
[[Category:US Salernitana 1919 players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:FC St. Gallen players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:UAE Pro League players]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in South Africa]]
[[Category:20th-century South African sportsmen]]