Soccer
Preparations underway for SA U17─── 13:45 Tue, 01 Jul 2014
Lee Khotlele
Bloemfontein - The South African under 17 national soccer team has four friendly games lined up in preparation for the upcoming African Youth Championship qualifier against Tanzania on Friday, 18 July 2014.
Amajimbos will travel to Botswana on Tuesday, 1 July 2014, to play in two friendly matches on 3 and 6 July 2014, before heading to Lesotho for two more friendlies, which will take place on Thursday, 10 July and on Sunday, 13 July.
They will return home on Monday, 14 July in preparation for their trip to Tanzania the next day. The African Youth Championships tournament will be played from 12 – 30 April 2015 in Niger.
The away leg will be played in Dar es Salaam on the 18th of July, before the team returns to South Africa for the home leg at the beginning of August.
Coach, Molefi Ntseki, was joined by 20 players for their first training session on Sunday, 29 June.
The team will be without the Athenkosi Dlala and Jonathan Jordaan for the friendly matches, but Ntseki is upbeat about the return of the duo before the first leg against Tanzania.
Dlala has been temporarily withdrawn from the squad following his younger brother’s death while Wits’ Jordaan will also not be travelling after being withdrawn by his club.
In other qualifying match, Egypt defeated Sudan 4-2 in the first round (14 June 2014) and will face Congo in the second round.
This encounter will determine the opponents for South Africa or Tanzania in the third and final round of qualification which are scheduled for September this year.
South African Under 17 squad:
GOALKEEPERS:
Mondli Mpoto, Sizwe Skei and Sanele Tshabalala
DEFENDERS:
Simon Nqoi, Kananelo Motsoeneng, Notha Ngcobo, Keanu Cupido, Thendo Mukumela, Katlego Mohamme and Tshepiso Mahlangu
MIDFIELDERS:
Nkomo Makgabola, Thato Ramogogodi, Sibongakonke Mbatha, Nelson Maluleke, Felix Noge and Vuyo Mantjie
STRIKERS:
Luvo Mkhatshana, Khanyiso Mayo, Edwin Sekhwama and Kamogelo Pheleu
