File photo: John Moshoeu during the Friendly match between South African Legends and African Legends at Moses Mabhida Stadium on December 22, 2012 in Durban, South Africa (Photo: Reuters)
South African football legend John "Shoes" Moshoeu passed away on Tuesday aged just 49 from cancer, his agent announced, as quoted by agency Sport24.
Moshoeu, who became a national hero in scoring four goals as Bafana Bafana won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in front of their own fans, had been in and out of hospital and was admitted twice this year.
He was capped 73 times for South Africa, scoring eight goals, but it was his influential role in the 1996 title winning side that endeared him to South Africans.
It was an historic success that came two years after the end of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as president.
"Shoes", as he was known by local fans, began his career in 1987 and went on to play for a number of teams, including Kaizer Chiefs and Turkish giants Fenerbahce before finally hanging up his boots at 42.
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