South Africa are into the second week of their camp in Johannesburg ahead of the CAF Under-23 Championship qualifier with Zimbabwe on Sunday, and have a beefed-up technical team to help prepare for the game.
Coach Owen da Gama has been afforded the unusual luxury of two weeks with the majority of his players in the build-up to the tricky fixture after the side entered camp on Monday last week.
Da Gama has also boosted his technical team with two high-profile additions - having appointed former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett as his assistant coach.
Bartlett's current agreement with the South African Football Association covers only the two-legged tie with Zimbabwe, though the presumption is that if the team makes it through to the CAF Under-23 Championships finals in Senegal later in the year his stay could be extended.
Da Gama has also included goalkeeper coach Deshi Bakhtawar in his brains trust, with the latter having most recently worked at Indian Super League side Atletico da Kolkata.
They won the inaugural competition under the guidance of former Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
The squad has been playing matches against local Gauteng clubs and will have a further test when they take on University of Pretoria today.
The team will remain in camp before leaving for Harare on Friday, where they are expected to hold a training session in the afternoon and at the match venue at 3pm on Saturday.
That is the same time as Sunday's kickoff for the match, which should give the team the perfect opportunity to acclimatise.
The side will arrive back home on Monday, with the return leg set for August 2.
If SA advance through these two legs against Zimbabwe, they will qualify for the eight-team CAF Under-23 Championships in Senegal from November 28 to December 12.
The PSL has undertaken to stop all league matches over that period to allow Da Gama to pick his best squad if the team makes it to the continental finals.
SA would need to finish in the top three in Senegal to book their place at the Olympic Games in Rio next year.
Da Gama boosts under-23 technical team
South Africa are into the second week of their camp in Johannesburg ahead of the CAF Under-23 Championship qualifier with Zimbabwe on Sunday, and have a beefed-up technical team to help prepare for the game.
Coach Owen da Gama has been afforded the unusual luxury of two weeks with the majority of his players in the build-up to the tricky fixture after the side entered camp on Monday last week.
Da Gama has also boosted his technical team with two high-profile additions - having appointed former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett as his assistant coach.
Bartlett's current agreement with the South African Football Association covers only the two-legged tie with Zimbabwe, though the presumption is that if the team makes it through to the CAF Under-23 Championships finals in Senegal later in the year his stay could be extended.
Da Gama has also included goalkeeper coach Deshi Bakhtawar in his brains trust, with the latter having most recently worked at Indian Super League side Atletico da Kolkata.
They won the inaugural competition under the guidance of former Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
The squad has been playing matches against local Gauteng clubs and will have a further test when they take on University of Pretoria today.
The team will remain in camp before leaving for Harare on Friday, where they are expected to hold a training session in the afternoon and at the match venue at 3pm on Saturday.
That is the same time as Sunday's kickoff for the match, which should give the team the perfect opportunity to acclimatise.
The side will arrive back home on Monday, with the return leg set for August 2.
If SA advance through these two legs against Zimbabwe, they will qualify for the eight-team CAF Under-23 Championships in Senegal from November 28 to December 12.
The PSL has undertaken to stop all league matches over that period to allow Da Gama to pick his best squad if the team makes it to the continental finals.
SA would need to finish in the top three in Senegal to book their place at the Olympic Games in Rio next year.
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