The 2015 Senegal African Youth Championships qualifier takes place on Sunday at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa. Kick-off is a 3pm.
Amajita head coach Shakes Mashaba had to whittle down his team from 23 to the required 18 players after the last training session yesterday at Eldorado Park.
“It never feels good to leave any players behind but we are bound by rules,” he says. “If I could I would have taken all of them to increase competition in the side. But for those left behind this is not the end of the world; they must keep working hard because we still have the second leg to play in two weeks’ time here at home.
“I have seen some good players in the few training sessions we have had and I believe we have what it takes to get a good result in Addis Ababa. Upon our arrival, we have two more days to complete our preparations and I know these boys will be ready for the battle.”
The return leg will be held in South Africa on the weekend of 23-25 May at a venue still to be announced.
The 19th edition of the African Youth Championships will be held in Senegal in March 2015. The semi-finalists in the tournament will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Goalkeepers: Jethren Barr (Bidvest Wits), Dumisani Msibi (SuperSport United)
Defenders:Madisha Modjeka (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khumbulani Mkhize (North West Shinning Stars), Denwin Farmer (SuperSport United); Ayabulela Maqwaka (Ajax Cape Town); Aubrey Modiba (Mpumalanga Black Aces)
Midfielders: Siphelele Luthuli (University of Pretoria); Tlotlo Leepile (Stars of Africa Academy); Nhlakanipho Ntuli (FC Twente, Holland); Recee Grantham (Woodlands FC), Bandile Shandu (Maritzburg United); Pule Maraisane (Stars of Africa Academy), Zama Rambuwane (SuperSport United)
Strikers: Fagrie Lakay (Santos), Linda Bhengu (Durban Warriors), Tshepo Chaine (Black Urbans), Siyanda Ngubo (North West Shinning Stars)