29 June 2018 –Head coach of the South African U17 Men’s National Team (Amajimbos), Molefi Ntseki, has announced a squad of 32 players for the upcoming 2018 COSAFA U17 Championship, which will take place in Mauritius from 19 – 29 July.
Ntseki is expected to trim his squad to 20 players for the tournament, by 9 July. He has included only one overseas-based player – midfielder Boipelo Mashego who is on the books of Unterhatching in Germany.
The South Africans will assemble for camp on Tuesday, 3 July and are expected to leave for Mauritius on Sunday, 15 July.
Amajimbos have been drawn in Group B alongside Lesotho, Mozambique and defending champions Zambia.
South Africa finished second and fourth in the competition in Mauritius in the last two years – but will now need to take it a notch up as the winner of the tournament this year will qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania, which doubles up as a FIFA U17 Men’s World Cup qualifier.
South Africa will open their account with a clash against Lesotho on Friday, 20 July at 13h30, and a fixture against Mozambique will follow this two days later (Sunday, 22 July) at 10h00 – and both matches will be played at the Auguste Vollaire Stadium in Flacq.
For the final group stages, Amajimbos will travel to the capital Port Louis to play Zambia on Tuesday, 24 July at the St Francois Xavier Stadium at 13h00.
In Group A, hosts Mauritius are with Botswana, 2016 champions Namibia and Seychelles, while Group C consists of Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi and Swaziland.
This year the tournament has been expanded to a record 12 teams, up from eight from the previous two editions.
PRELIMINARY AMAJIMBOS SQUAD FOR COSAFA CUP
| GOALKEEPERS: | |||
| 1. | CONSTI CHRISTODOULOU | MARITZBURG UNITED | KZN |
| 2. | THABANG MAEMA | SCHOOL SPORTS | GAUTENG |
| 3. | LEBOGANG NTHENE | LOUIS BOTHA | FREE STAGE |
| 4. | BONTLE MOLEFE | KAIZER CHIEFS | GAUTENG |
| DEFENDERS: | |||
| 5. | BHONGO LAWANA | SUPERSPORT UNITED | GAUTENG |
| 6. | SPHIWE NKABINDE | STARS OF AFRICA | GAUTENG |
| 7. | BONGOLWETHU SIYASI | AJAX CAPE TOWN | CAPE TOWN |
| 8. | LEORANDO ROOI | SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE | GAUTENG |
| 9. | KIERON JACKS | SUPERSPORT UNITED | GAUTENG |
| 10. | NELSON RALENKOANE | NAVALSIG HIGH | FREE STATE |
| 11. | ATHENKOSI MCABA | BIDVEST WITS | GAUTENG |
| 12. | BHEKI CELE | ORLANDO PIRATES | GAUTENG |
| 13. | BARRY SITHOLE | SUPERSPORT UNITED | LIMPOPO |
| MIDFIELDERS: | |||
| 14. | VUSIMUZI PLAMANA | FISH HOEK AFC | CAPE TOWN |
| 15. | STORM JONAS | BIDVEST WITS | GAUTENG |
| 16. | THATO MATLI | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS | GAUTENG |
| 17. | SIYANDA NYANGA | UNIVERSITY OF JHB | GAUTENG |
| 18. | THABANI GUMEDE | ORLANDO GUMEDE | GAUTENG |
| 19. | DANTE BROWN | AJAX CAPE TOWN | CAPE TOWN |
| 20. | MOHAMMED SHAHABODIEN | STARS OF AFRICA | GAUTENG |
| 21. | AZOLA TSHOBENI | ORLANDO PIRATES | GAUTENG |
| 22. | BOIPELO MASHEGO | UNTERHATCHING | GERMANY |
| 23. | THANDO BUTHELEZI | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS | GAUTENG |
| 24. | LUNGELO MAKAMBI | ORLANDO PIRATES | GAUTENG |
| 25. | JEAN PIERRE | AJAX CAPE TOWN | CAPE TOWN |
| 26. | KATLEGO TSOTETSI | SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE | GAUTENG |
| 27. | JAMES MCFARLANE | KAIZER CHIEFS | GAUTENG |
| STRIKERS: | |||
| 28. | JEROME KARELSE | ORION HIGH SCHOOL | NORTHERN CAPE |
| 29. | MOTLHALOSI NARE | ALEX ACES | GAUTENG |
| 30. | BOITUMELO RADIOPANE | SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE | GAUTENG |
| 31. | OLEFILE RAMATLO | MEADOWLANDS ACADEMY | GAUTENG |
| 32. | MTHOKOZISI BALAKASI | KAIZER CHIEFS | GAUTENG |