Nedbank Feature - Ke Yona Team Revealed
The 2015 Nedbank Ke Yona Team was finally unveiled on Tuesday 11 August at the Nedbank headquarters in Johannesburg. The final squad to take on the current Nedbank Cup champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, has been handpicked from thousands of aspiring South African footballers between the ages of 18 and 25 by the vastly experienced quartet of Shakes Mashaba, Owen Da Gama, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena. The 2015 edition of South Africa's largest football talent search attracted more than 40 000 total entries and got underway earlier this year in six different provinces. Of the 48 players originally selected, a final squad of 18 players was chosen. Nedbank is proud to introduce the final 2015 Ke Yona Team squad! 2015 Nedbank Ke Yona team player profiles: Juzeya Rampheng Age: 22 Position: Goalkeeper Home Town: Orange Farm, Gauteng Nickname: Juice Message to Sundowns: I am well-known for keeping clean sheets! Nothing gets past me! Nkosinathi Malubane Age: 23 Position: Goalkeeper Home Town: eMalahleni, Mpumalanga Nickname: Nathi Message to Sundowns: We know they are a big team, but they need to know that we will surprise them. We are a well-organized and spirited. Thamsanqa Gwabeni Age: 21 Position: Right Back Home Town: Motherwell, Eastern Cape Nickname: Sweswe Message to Sundowns: Mamelodi Sundowns need to prepare themselves for a hard game. We are a young team that will run at them for the entire 90 minutes. Ricardo Versuur Age: 24 Position: Right back Home Town: Warrenton, Northern Cape Nickname: Japan Message to Sundowns: I did not make such sacrifices to end up losing! Thabani Mbedu Age: 25 Position: Centre Back Home Town: Mpolweni, KwaZulu-Natal Nickname: Ntsimbi Message to Sundowns: They should underestimate us at their own risk. Jarred Meyer Age: 23 Position: Centre Back Home Town: Bloemfontein, Free State Nickname: Jabu Message to Sundowns: Just because we are not professional does not mean our dreams are not valid. We will show them why we deserve to be in their place! Thabo Meko Age: 24 Position: Centre Back Home Town: Madibogo, North West Nickname: Owen Message to Sundowns: We are hungry for success and, now that Nedbank has given us the platform, we will give our all against the Brazilians! Happy Mahlako Age: 20 Position: Centre Back Home Town: Tafelkop, Limpopo Nickname: Mahala Message to Sundowns: Our hunger to succeed will supersede their experience. Dean Jones Age: 21 Position: Centre Back Home Town: Athlone, Western Cape Nickname: Jones Message to Sundowns: We are united as a team and they will be in for a good match. I do not like losing, so my motto is "Either you win or you learn, but you never lose." Phakamani Mtolo Age: 23 Position: Left Back Home Town: Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal Nickname: Pogba Message to Sundowns: It won't be easy but, because of the brotherhood I have with the team, they will not find it easy. Katlego Bojela Age: 24 Position: Defensive Midfielder Home Town: Daveyton, Gauteng Nickname: Tower Message to Sundowns: Sundowns must brace themselves for a very tough match! Mthetho Manyati Age: 24 Position: Central Midfielder Home Town: Berthest, Eastern Cape Nickname: Loadshedding Message to Sundowns: We want to make history by becoming the first Ke Yona Team to win the Nedbank Ke Yona Challenge. Bonginkosi Shangase Age: 25 Position: Attacking Midfielder Home Town: Imbali, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Nickname: Ace Message to Sundowns: My dribbling skills will frustrate the old legs of the Sundowns defence! Itumeleng Mogotsi Age: 25 Position: Attacking Midfielder Home Town: Mapetla, Soweto Nickname: Jaiva Bantwana Message to Sundowns: I don't have much to say because I do my talking on the field. Quade Roskruge Age: 23 Position: Left Wing Home Town: Durban, Wentsworth Nickname: Q Message to Sundowns: They do not know what is coming at them! We have been trained by four of the best coaches in the country. Ntokozo Adams Age: 24 Position: Striker Home Town: eMalahleni, Mpumalanga Nickname: Obua Message to Sundowns: We are coming for you and we are well prepared by the coaches! Ian Chikohwa Age: 20 Position: Striker Home Town: Treyville, Gauteng Nickname: Chukwu Message to Sundowns: Just like my nickname, I want to be the next Raphael Chukwu… only a much better version of the Nigerian striker! S'mamiso Gumede Age: 25 Position: Striker Home Town: Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal Nickname: Ntsubasa Message to Sundowns: It will be a tough match. We have a competitiveteam that can take on any club in the PSL. The Ke Yona Team will return to the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on 27 August for their final preparations for their highly anticipated match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Sunday 6 September. Following the conclusion of the game against Mamelodi Sundowns, 16 of the players will be drafted by the 16 PSL teams with an opportunity to try out at the various clubs. More details of this exciting initiative will be shared after the match in September! To follow the progress of the players becoming household names, catch the show on SABC1 which airs on Sundays at 14h00.
