The South African Men’s Olympic Team camp is near full with players slowly trickling in.

The South African Men’s Olympic Team camp is near full with players slowly trickling in.

The latest to report for national team duty is French-based Lebo Mothiba, who is on the books of Lille FC.

He was last part of the national team set up earlier this year (March 2016) when they lost 3-1 to Brazil in Maceio. Mothiba has been hard at work at his Ligue 1 club in pre-season training after he was promoted to the senior team.

“I am very happy to have graduated to the senior team, God is great but for now my focus is with the national team, and I am happy to be here in Brasilia. Playing in the Olympic Games is a great honour and I am grateful to be in the team,” said Mothiba.

“As a striker, I want to bring some influence to the team. My last game for the Olympic Team was the loss to Brazil and I scored in that match. I believe that playing in the opening match will be a chance for me to redeem myself as I had many chances that I did not convert on the day. I need to make sure that I become more lethal in front of goals for the team to have any chance of success in the tournament. In football, when your team scores goals, you stand a better chance of winning a match.”

Only two players – Erick Mathoho and Itumeleng Khune – are still to arrive in camp ahead of the South African Men’s Olympic Team’s clash against the hosts on Thursday, 4 August at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia.

Kickoff is scheduled for 16h00.