SOUTH Africa has named a squad comprising only of home-based players as they kick-started preparations yesterday for the Under-23 Championships final qualifier, first leg against the Young Warriors on July 19 in Harare.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The return leg is on August 2. Kalisto Pasuwa has delayed announcing his squad that will do battle against South Africa for the right to play at the finals to be held in Senegal as he awaits finalisation of his contract and payment of outstanding dues before resuming duty.
The top three teams in Senegal will automatically qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games while the fourth-placed team will face an Asian country in a play-off.
Pasuwa will also have to do with only home-based players who qualified for the All-Africa Games qualifiers as well as those that have been taking part in the African Under-23 Championships.
With foreign clubs including South African teams having already started their pre-season preparations, Pasuwa just like his counterpart will be without foreign-based players as he faces his opponents.
He will bank on the players who were part of the squad that drew 2-2 against Swaziland to advance to the third and final qualifying round.
Those players that also took part in the 1-1 draw against Cameroon in Yaounde to seal a ticket to the All-Africa Games to be staged in Congo Brazzaville in September will also be part of the squad to face South Africa, coached by Bafana Bafana assistant coach Owen da Gama.
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However, Caps United leftback Ronald Pfumbidzai, who has joined Hobro in Denmark will now not play any role in the decisive qualifier.
Further complicating Pasuwa’s life is the number of players on trials.
Thomas Chideu, Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders), Wisdom Mutasa and Walter Musona (FC Platinum) have gone for trials.
All South Africa training sessions will take place at Nike Centre.
The team will depart for Harare on 17 July and the match is scheduled to kick off at 1500hrs.
SA MEN’S UNDER-23 NATIONAL TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Steven Hoffman (Vasco Da Gama Fc), Ricardo Goss (Golden Arrows), Nkosingiphile Gumede (Golden Arrows)
Defenders: Tshepo Rhikotso (Bloemfontein Celtic), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg United), Modisha Modjeka (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo Makhele (Witbank Spurs), Tebogo Moerane (Bidvest Wits), Zitha Macheke (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Dube (Golden Arrows), Lukhele Mdluli (Bidvest Wits)
Midfielders: Ayabulela Magqwaka (Ajax Cape Town), Phumlani Ntshangase (Bidvest Wits), Abbubaker Mobara (Ajax Cape Town), Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns), Riyaad Norodien (Ajax Cape Town), Thapelo Morena (Bloemfontein Celtic), Abednego Mosiathlaga ( Bidvest Wits)
Strikers: Siphiwe Kambule (African Warriors), Gift Motupa (Orlando Pirates), Menzi Alson Masuku (Orlando Pirates), Siphelele Ntshangase (Black Leopards), Andile Fikizolo (Supersport United).
