South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923

Date: 23 Mar 1923
Updated: 7 Jun 2023

Steve ‘Kalamazoo’ Mokone was born in Doornfontein, Johannesburg. He became the first black professional footballer to play in Europe, when he signed for the English Club Coventry in 1955. In 1959 he was elected Europe’s best soccer player. He is regarded as the greatest footballer South Africa has ever produced, often being compared with the world’s all time greats including The inimitable Pele of Brazil.

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01IMDb[online] Available at: www.imdb.com/name/nm3011101/ [Accessed on 24 April 2023] by Mark Hornby, Coventry City [online] Available at: www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/feature-a-profile-of-steve-mokone---coventry-citys-first-black-player/ [Accessed on 13 October 2020]

Last updated · 7 Jun 2023

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2023, June 7). South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0151998

South African History Online (2023) 'South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923', South African History Online, 7 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0151998 (Accessed: 28 August 2026).

South African History Online, South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923 [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0151998, (accessed 28 August 2026).

"South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923." South African History Online, 7 June 2023, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0151998. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923." South African History Online. June 7, 2023. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0151998.