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Big bros keen to copy Amajimbos

Amajimbos
Amajimbos

National under-20 coach Thabo Senong broke into a wry smile when a question he must have known was coming was posed to him at yesterday's press conference at Safa House.

Now that the national under-17s have qualified for the World Cup after reaching the semifinals of the junior championships in Niger, is he under pressure to do the same with the under-20s?

A calm Senong said the feat has motivated his players instead.

Senong's boys will compete in the African Youth Championships (AYC) next month and they need to reach the semifinals to qualify for the World Cup in New Zealand.

"It's actually good news for Amajimbos to qualify, which means the future of Bafana Bafana in the long run looks good. It also serves as an inspiration to the Amajita boys too," he said.

Senong, who also serves as a Bafana assistant, named a 21-man squad for the AYC set to kick off in Senegal on March 8. Amajita have been drawn in group B with Ghana, Mali and Zambia.

The strong squad includes the SuperSport United trio of Dumisani Msibi, Morne Nel and Ayabulela Magqwaka and Commonwealth Cup stars Motjeka Madisha and Pule Maraisane. Rivaldo Coetzee is now seen as a senior team player and has not been included, while the hero in the AYC qualifiers, Fagrie Lakay, has been ruled out of the competition with a hamstring injury.

"The selection was tough. We looked at the players who contributed in the Cosafa Cup and the ones who contributed in the qualifiers. We looked at the group we took for the west African tour and the group of players who were part of the Commonwealth Cup in Russia. We want continuity," Senong said.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Sibongiseni Mkhize, Mpho Mathekga, Dumisani Msibi

Defenders: Bongani Mathabela, Tebogo Moerane, Kabelo Seriba, Maphosa Modiba, Chas Williams, Ayabulela Magqwaka (vice-captain), Motjeka Madisha (captain)

Midfielders: Sphelele Luthuli, Tlotlo Leepile, Morne Nel, Keamogetswe Boikanyo, Pule Maraisane, Haashim Domingo

Strikers: Siyanda Ngubo, Tshidiso Monamodi, Tyroane Sandows, Thami Masiya, Dumisani Zuma

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