South Africa's Under-20 national team coach, Thabo Senong, has named a strong provisional squad for this year's CAF Africa U20 Cup of Nations set to take place in Niger.
Senong has called up 34 players for a camp and will be expected to trim the squad to 21 players at a later stage. As confirmed from the South African Football Association (SAFA), the camp is scheduled to run from 14–19 January.
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SAFA have also confirmed that Amajita are scheduled to jet off to Senegal later this month, as part of their preparations for the upcoming tournament, which is scheduled to run from 24 February to 10 March.
Amajita are scheduled to play an international friendly match against their fellow AFCON Under-20 participants Senegal on January 27.
Amajita are in Group A of AFCON with hosts Niger, as well as Burundi and Nigeria. A top four finish in the competition will qualify Amajita for the U20 FIFA World Cup set to take place in Poland from 25 May to 16 June 2019.
"We brought in a big pool of players because there are a lot of things that we need to assess first before we trim down the squad to 21 players," Senong told SAFA's official website.
"This camp will also serve as a perfect opportunity of laying a tactical base of getting our players to understand what will be expected of them when we arrive in Niger. Our goal is to see this team reach the semi-final stages of this competition," added the coach.
"However, we do not want our players to be stressing about such. Our goal is to make sure that they enjoy every single match they compete in. That state of mind always leads to positive results being produced on the field," concluded the coach.
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Amajita's Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Buhle Damane (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal), Khulekani Kubheka (Cape Umoya FC), Kopano Thuntsane (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Njabulo Blom (Kaizer Chiefs), Malebogo Modise (M. Tigers FC), Bradley Cross (Schalke FC, Germany), Keenan Abrahams (Ajax Cape Town), Givemore Khupe (Cape Umoya FC), Sibusiso Mabiliso (AmaZulu), Fezile Gcaba (Pele Pele FC), Luke Fluers (SuperSport United), Lesley Mbongeni Kanyane (Bidvest Wits), Thabo Moloisane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Keenan Phillips (Bidvest Wits)
Midfielders: Philasande Mfanafikile Dlamini (Golden Arrows), Siphesihle Mkhize (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luke Le Roux (SuperSport United), Duncan Adonis (Cape Town City), Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs), Solly Molahlehi Kunyedi (Bidvest Wits), Kobamelo Kodisang (AD Sanjoanense FC, Portugal), Promise Mkhuma (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tashreeq Matthews (FC Utrecht, Holland), Simphiwe Ncamane (TS Sporting), Goodman Mosele (Baroka FC), Khanya Leshabela (Leicester City FC, England), Sphephelo Sithole (Belenenses FC, Portugal)
Strikers: Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (AS Monaco, France), Bayanda Shangase (AmaZulu), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Maritzburg United), Luvuyo Phewa (Real Kings).
