The last time South Africa took part in the Futsal competition was in 2000 when they finished a credible fourth.
Pinto was present during the ninth SAFA Interprovincial Tournament, won by Gauteng two weeks ago.
Coach Pinto – popularly known as ‘JP’ – along with a few selectors chose 48 players from the last two national futsal tournaments, to build the national team that would compete at the CAF tournament.
The 48 players will go into a selection camp from 4-6 March 2016 where the squad will be trimmed down at the end of the weekend as they continue to prepare for the CAF Futsal Cup of Nations.
“I am excited to be working in South Africa. This is an important challenge for me and South Africa as a whole. The fact that this country is placed seventh in African Futsal rankings is a good beginning. I am sure that we will be ready to compete in the Afcon come next month,” said coach JP.
Eight nations will feature in the 2016 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, with the top three representing the continent at the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia from 10 September to 1 October alongside 21 other countries to make the total number 24 at the World Cup.
The eight that will be playing in the African qualifiers are hosts South Africa, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zambia who will be making their debut.
Nwashokwe Gift Mashaba (Free State)
Mpho Chabeli (Free State)
Vusumuzi Mnanzana (Free State)
Moroka Molaba (Free State)
Justice Moshela (Limpopo)
Television Mdaka (Limpopo)
Ernest Mahlaba (Mpumalanga)
Nelson Mokhetha (GP Invitational)
Mpho Mkhwanazi (GP Invitational)
Mphikeleli Mokoena (GP Invitational)
Kyle Koert (GP Invitational)
Lihle Sakathi (Eastern Cape)
Trevino Pillay (KwaZulu Natal)
Duane Jordan (KwaZulu Natal)
Simpiwe Mgedezi (KwaZulu Natal)
Ronaldo Donelly (KwaZulu Natal)
Donovan Jordan (KwaZulu Natal)
Wiseman Cele (KwaZulu Natal)
Sphesihle Dlamini (KwaZulu Natal)
Ashwin Maikoo (KwaZulu Natal)
Roberto Slater (KwaZulu Natal)
Demaine Ho Ghong (KwaZulu Natal)
Hashim Khan (KwaZulu Natal)
Curtis Dos Santos (KwaZulu Natal)
Radlin Sanssoucie (KwaZulu Natal)
Taheer Syed (KwaZulu Natal)
Sedwyn George (KwaZulu Natal)
Gershwin Muller (KwaZulu Natal)
Browyn Naidoo (KwaZulu Natal)
Mickyle Sampson (KwaZulu Natal)
Malcolm Welcome (KwaZulu Natal)
Byron Cottle (Western Cape)
Pedro Marques (Western Cape)
Chance Southgate (Western Cape)
Yusuf White (Western Cape)
Allie Logday (Western Cape)
Kyle Losper (Western Cape)
Yahzeed Joharie (Western Cape)
Nhlanhla Zwane (Gauteng)
Sibusiso Tshabalala (Gauteng)
Sibusiso Makhoba (Gauteng)
Mark Haskins (Gauteng)
Simanga Tshabalala (Gauteng)
Rafique Hassim (Gauteng)
Jabulani Mnisi (Gauteng)
Ponalo Motshabi (Gauteng)
Emmanuel Khetsi (Gauteng)
Braultor Malatji (Gauteng)