Notoane explains Amaglug-glug squad’s selection challenges

Amaglug-glug mentor David Notoane has revealed the challenges he had to go through when selecting his squad for Morocco’s 2023 AFCON second-round qualifier against Togo.

South Africa will take on the West Africans in two-legged fixtures next week.

The two matches against Togo will be played outside of the FIFA Calender which led to Notoane having to negotiate with the PSL teams to release some of the available players for the qualifiers.

He went on to state that they also had to request some of the ABC Motsepe League fixtures to be moved in order to accommodate them.

THE CHALLENGES NOTOANE HAD TO FACE…

“In terms of selecting the players, we had a lot of engagements with the PSL, with the clubs directly to see which players are available,” he told SAFA’s media.  

“So with PSL teams rendering certain players unavailable due to their hectic programmes, and also looking at the fact that some players will be required to honour their club commitments up until Wednesday.

“We had to find a very good balance in making sure we have a squad that is strong enough to compete and fresh enough to be able to deal with the conditions in West Africa, in Togo.

“Those are some of the challenges we had to overcome in finalising the squad.”

Notoane’s charges progressed to the second round by a bye in the first round, whereas Togo defeated Mauritania 2-1 in the first round last month.

“We have even gone further and looked at the South African Under-20 squad playing in the COSAFA tournament in Eswatini and a few of the players there have shown tremendous talent and ability.

“Seeing that they are already active and in competition, we are also considering selecting one or two of them to give us depth and options due to the unavailability of certain players,” He added.

“We had to put together a team that will be able to give us an advantage in the first leg, secure a victory first, try not to concede and come away with a clean sheet in Togo, which will be very difficult in a hostile environment and with altitude also a very important factor to consider.”

SA U-23 FINAL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Lincoln VYVER, Bontle MOLEFE, Olwethu MZIMELA

DEFENDERS

Wayne DORTLEY, Kamogelo MAHLANGU, Zuko  MDUNYELWA, Siyanda MSANI, Khaya MFECANE, Keagan ALLEN, Kerwin PETERS, Thabiso SESANE

MIDFIELDERS

Jayden ADAMS, Ethan BROOKS, Oswin ANDRIES, Sifiso MBIDANA, Oswin APPOLIS

FORWARDS

Ashley CUPIDO, Antonio Van Wyk, Azola MATROSE, Chumani BUTSAKA, Dan NDLOVU, Cassius MAILULA, Mduduzi SHABALALA, Aphelele TETO.