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U20s to play friendlies before big tournament

Landed: Neymar played for Santos Photo: Gallo Images
Landed: Neymar played for Santos Photo: Gallo Images

THE South African Under-19 national side want to play two friendlies as part of their final preparations for the Durban International tournament.

Coach Serame "Rhee" Letsoaka said the tournament would help create a bigger pool of players for the U-20 national team.

"We are building a team for the Cosafa U-20 championship next year, but the bigger picture for us is the 2016 Rio Olympic Games," Letsoaka said.

Brazil's Santos and Argentina's Boca Juniors lead the list of international clubs at the Durban event held from July 31 to August 9. Feyenoord of Holland, Everton of England, Italian side Roma, Benfica of Portugal and a KwaZulu-Natal Academy X1 will also participate.

"We will play a friendly match against Maluti FET College on Wednesday. We also hope to play against a club from Safa ABC Motsepe League," Letsoaka told Sowetan yesterday. "Those games will form part of our final preparations."

"Our plan is to win," Safa president Danny Jordaan said.

The tournament's group games will be played at Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

The semifinals will take place at King Zwelithini Stadium, with the final scheduled for Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

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