It's safe to say the Amajita class of 2009 have graduated and are deserving of a seat at the South African football royalty table.
Up until now, the seats at that table were largely occupied by the Bafana Bafana class of 1996 and a few unique talents that have come after that.
Guys like Benni McCarthy, who hold unbreakable records such as being the first scorer for South Africa at a World Cup in 1998.
What made it even more special was that it was a uniquely South African goal; a shibobo through the legs of the best goalkeeper of that time, Peter Schmeichel.
That goal alone earned Benni a seat in the pantheon, but to further strengthen his case Benni set the bar even higher in national colours having scored the only hattrick for Bafana and at an Afcon tournament nogal.
Nobody has come close to doing what Benni has done in national colours.
Then there are a bunch of others whose place at the table has to be motivated.
Manne soos Siyabonga Nomvethe, who scored in Bafana’s first ever win at a World Cup a 1-0 victory over Slovenia in 2002.
BEEN THERE: Ramahlwe Mphahlele. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix.
Then there is Aaron Mokoena, who is the most capped player and guys like Siphiwe Tshabalala who scored the first World Cup goal on African soil.
That list is actually quite long, but you cannot deny that the boys who after years of inconsistency at U20 level, went to Rwanda and finished fourth place and secured SA’s place at an U20 World Cup after 12 years of trying.
They went on to become the first SA team to qualify for the knockout stages, as one of the best third-ranked teams, where, you guessed it, in Egypt in 2009.
Like soldiers of destiny, Darren Keet, captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Ramahlwe Mphahlele (who captained the Amajita team in 2009), Kamohelo Mokotjo and Thulani Serero went into battle to reclaim South Africa’s place at the top of African football.
Nogal in Egypt, the very same country they created history at 10 years before as young boys.
Once again, as one of the four best third-placed teams but this time as fully-fledged men, Bafana progressed past the group stages and won a knockout match.
This is something that we haven’t achieved since 2000, with current assistant coach Mark Fish as a 25-year-old centreback and goalkeeper coach Andre Arendse was a veteran goalminder at 32.
And that team went onto the semfinals, where they lost to Wednesday's opponents Nigeria.
HISTORY CALLING: Kamo Mokotjo. Photo: BackpagePix.
Their 1-0 victory against hosts Egypt on Saturday brought their national association to its knees in disbelief.
It’s an incredible story that should melt even the hardest of hearts and heal the wounds inflicted by the disappointments of recent South African national teams.
So when you watch Bafana Bafana at Afcon on Wednesday, believe that this special group of players are destined to achieve something historic.
They have survived the challenges of being a South African footballer and deserve only to hear and read encouraging words from every single one of us, as they prepare to take to the field at Cairo International Stadium.