Reports said police detained Masinga in Klerksdorp, 130km west of here, and that he would face charges of drunken and reckless driving and of obstructing officers and resisting arrest.

He was later released on bail and is expected to appear in court Monday.

A capacity 80,000 crowd saw Masinga score a memorable winner against Congo in Johannesburg eight years ago to steer South Africa to the World Cup for the first time.

Masinga was among the first South Africans to move abroad when a racism-induced ban on South Africa was lifted in 1992 by world football governing body FIFA.

He played for Leeds United in England and Bari in Italy.