Simon Gopane

Motshweneng Simon Gopane (born 26 December 1970 in Bloemfontein) is a South African football coach and a former international goalkeeper. Throughout his career he played for Bloemfontein Celtic, Jomo Cosmos, Umtata Bush Bucks and Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. while also representing South Africa in the 1998 African Cup of Nations and 1998 FIFA World Cup.Simon Gopane at footballzz.com Retrieved 10 May 2013 Since retiring he would move into goalkeeper coaching and returned to his local team Bloemfontein Celtic before having a brief spell as the Head coach for Roses United F.C.S. Gopane at uk.soccerway.com Retrieved 19 November 2014
==International career==
Gopane would be called up to the South African national team squad for the 1998 African Cup of Nations held in Burkina Faso as an uncapped player leading up to the tournament. He would go on to make his debut within the event on February 16, 1998 in a group game against Namibia, which South Africa won 4-1.African Nations Cup 1998 - Final Tournament Details at rsssf.com 5 June 2005 Retrieved 19 November 2014
He was in the South African national team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup as an injury replacement.South Africa's Evans to be replaced by Gopane at fifa.com 17 June 1998 Retrieved 10 May 2013 Andre Arendse was injured before the start of the tournament. His replacement, Paul Evans, was also injured shortly after arriving as a replacement. Gopane was then called up, and sat on the bench for the last two matches.
He holds the distinctive position of being the first-ever goalkeeper to wear the number 23 for his country in the FIFA World Cup.
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Category:1970 births
Category:Living people
Category:Sportspeople from Bloemfontein
Category:Association football goalkeepers
Category:South African soccer players
Category:South Africa international soccer players
Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1998 African Cup of Nations players
Category:Bloemfontein Celtic F.C. players
Category:Jomo Cosmos F.C. players
Category:Bush Bucks players