Many players have left South Africa for Europe, but one former Orlando Pirates midfielder has continued to reach historic heights overseas.
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It has been five years since Marshall Munetsi swapped the Buccaneers for Stade Reims in France via a free transfer, with his goal in Ligue 1 on the weekend presenting a good opportunity to highlight all he has since achieved.
The 28-year-old scored in Reims' 2-1 win away from home over FC Nantes on Sunday – his 18th strike in 142 games across all competitions for the club.
Munetsi, formerly of the now-defunct FC Cape Town and Baroka FC, has been ever-present for Les Rouges et Blancs since his arrival in 2019, and was rewarded in August when he was selected to be part of the side's four-man leadership team.
Reims formally announced Munetsi's promotion as they recognised him for his "key role in the integration of young people and the cohesion of the group", but his appearance numbers would suggest more acclaim is around the corner.
As he closes in on his 150th game for Reims, a milestone reached by only 46 players in the club's long history, only two African-born stars have made more appearances than he has for the side – Odair Fortes (247) and Kossi Agassa (195).
The Zimbabwean midfielder has turned out on 142 occasions for the French outfit to date, and could still make up good ground on his predecessors given he has three years remaining on his deal in Europe.
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With 133 of those appearances coming in Ligue 1, meanwhile, Munetsi sits at the top of the list of Reims' African-born league appearance-makers and 31st overall.
