When Sheffield Wednesday became part of South Africa’s new football dawn; A look into the Owls’ 1992 tour involving Chris Waddle, Trevor Francis and more

Back in October 1992, with Sheffield Wednesday enduring a tough start to the season, they packed their bags and jetted out to South Africa inbetween games against Liverpool and Oldham Athletic...
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Club of South Africa. (Courtesy of Andy Moran)The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Club of South Africa. (Courtesy of Andy Moran)
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Club of South Africa. (Courtesy of Andy Moran)

The trip was on, then it was off, then it was on again with just 48 hours until departure. We thought we’d take a look into SWFC’s whistle-stop trip to Africa that happened almost three decades ago.

Think back to the early 90s. SA’s national team – who were banned by FIFA during the Apartheid era – had just been readmitted into the football world as a new dawn began in the Rainbow Nation, and the Owls were to become one of the first foreign teams to play in a truly free South Africa – with games set up against Hellenic in Cape Town and then Mamelodi Sundowns up in Pretoria.

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Gavin Hunt, now one of the most decorated managers in the Premier Soccer League, was a defender for Hellenic all those years ago, and he reflected on facing the Owls under the leadership of Johnny ‘Budgie’ Byrne in a game that ended 2-1 at the old Cape Town Stadium. Byrne, an England international, got his nickname because he loved a chatter.

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Speaking to The Star from Johannesburg, Hunt said, “Our manager was ‘Budgie’ Byrne, who played for England, so he was well-known but I don’t know how the whole thing came about.

“They came out and played us and Sundowns. It was an eye-opener. They were very physical, and there was a good English feel to the game. We did well. I played fullback and I was involved in Mark Williams’ goal.

“I played against Waddle… He was a player who could beat you in two metres then put in a cross or pick out a diagonal. I remember vividly that he never pressed or ran around, but every time he got the ball he’d make a pass or look dangerous.

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After Williams, who went on to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers, opened the scoring for the Capetonians, it required a second-half rally and Paul Warhurst double for the Owls to pick up a victory. With a win in the bag, they were all smiles heading to the pub for a beer or two.

“We all had a big function after the game at the pub there,” Hunt recalls. “Right next to the stadium at a place called Seagulls. It was brilliant, everybody was potting that night, we had a very English culture in our team. They flew out to face Sundowns after that.

“Trevor Francis was a big idol of mine when he was at Nottingham Forest, and he was a helluva nice guy when I got talking to him.

“Back then the bigger sides would come out here but they’d play Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates - we wouldn’t play them because we weren’t the drawcard team, so it was brilliant to play Wednesday.”

Both Mark Bright and David Hirst were on the plane to South Africa. (Michael Cooper /Allsport)Both Mark Bright and David Hirst were on the plane to South Africa. (Michael Cooper /Allsport)
Both Mark Bright and David Hirst were on the plane to South Africa. (Michael Cooper /Allsport)
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Then it was off to Tshwane and Loftus Versfeld, about 900 miles away, to face a talented Sundowns side – long before their CAF Champions League victory in 2016 – that were prepared to put up a fight at about 4,000 feet above sea level.

Former Masandawana defender and now author, Mike Ntombela, told The Star of a packed Loftus welcoming the Owls – the attendance rose from around 6,000 v Hellenic to 30,000+ v Sundowns – and how they managed to ‘piss off’ the visitors in an entertaining 2-2 draw that saw Nigel Jemson and Viv Anderson on the scoresheet, alongside Morgan Nkathazo and Bennett Masinga.

“The Wednesday tour happened at a time when other big international clubs were also coming to South Africa… They were still playing in the Premier League with well-known players like Chris Waddle, Viv Anderson, Nigel Pearson, Mark Bright, and their legendary coach, Trevor Francis, to mention a few.

“During South African football isolation a lot of people, including myself, followed English football, particularly the names of players who moved from one club to another – I also dreamed of playing in England.

Hellenic v Sheffield Wednesday (Courtesy of Gavin Hunt)Hellenic v Sheffield Wednesday (Courtesy of Gavin Hunt)
Hellenic v Sheffield Wednesday (Courtesy of Gavin Hunt)
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“When they arrived, all the Sundowns players were happy that, at long last, we were able to gauge ourselves against a Premier League team, and there was also excitement for the supporters to see their team face opposition from England’s top tier.

“We were waiting to hear how they’d played in the first game, and as soon as we were told that Hellenic, with their good players, had lost then we became worried. But we were consoled that the score ended 2-1, meaning Hellenic had given them a tough time.”

“Then came October 13th,” Ntombela remembers. “And with about 30,000 packed into Loftus, the stadium was electrifying with excitement. Each player was looking forward to playing against those top players and big club, but there was also talent at Sundowns with players like ‘Ewe’ Khambule, Harris Choeu, Zane Moosa, Ernest Chirwali, Phil Masinga and Bennett Masinga.

“As the game began, I was happy that the team competed well. The two contrasting styles, Wednesday being more direct with the very talented Waddle and his skills, up against the gifted Moosa, who had a brilliant game, providing flair and showboating which pissed off the Wednesday team!

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“Wednesday will be remembered as a club that gave Sundowns an opportunity to play against a top team during the early years of South Africa’s growth as a football nation.”

After winning just three of 11 league games prior to their trip, the Owls went on to lose only eight of the 31 that followed, reaching the FA Cup and League Cup finals and finishing seventh. Turns out the whistle-stop tour was worth it.

Sheffield Wednesday fans on the field at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria. (Courtesy of Andy Moran)Sheffield Wednesday fans on the field at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria. (Courtesy of Andy Moran)
Sheffield Wednesday fans on the field at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria. (Courtesy of Andy Moran)

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