Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations winning players of 1996 were bigger physically and more in tune with each other than the current side, but Shakes Mashaba's team is well coached, said Doctor Khumalo.
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khumalo, the skilful midfield prince of the team that won the Afcon on home soil under Clive Barker 19 years ago, believes the current side is responding well to Mashaba's style of play.
Bafana embark on another Afcon challenge when they kick off their tournament against Algeria in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea, on Monday.
Mashaba's 10-match unbeaten run since his appointment in August has raised hopes of South Africa restoring some pride in a competition they failed to qualify for, other than as hosts, since 2008.
"When you talk of the national team, you look at different dimensions," Khumalo said.
"I would probably start with the four pillars - their physique, mental strength, the social factor, and technique and tactics.
"The only player probably in 1996 who wore a size six [boot] was John Moeti, the rest were a size 10. We had well-built players.
"When you talk of the tactical understanding, we wouldn't wait for the coach to tell us what to do. We would understand each other in terms of the way forward. And the coaching staff and the way forward are two different things compared to this current crop.
"Because now you have a coach who has worked in development stages who understands the culture of South African football.
"I would say the players are responding to Shakes because they understand him better and he's getting players who will fit into the system, and not the system fitting the players."
