National under-23 coach Owen da Gama is hoping the inclusion of Reyaad Pieterse in Bafana Bafana's Cosafa Cup squad will push the junior No1 Jody February.
A 20-man Cosafa Cup squad was revealed yesterday and is mostly made up of younger players, as Safa and senior coach Shakes Mashaba look to help the national under-23 team prepare for the upcoming Olympics.
Da Gama, who is considering including either Itumeleng Khune or Brighton Mhlongo as one of the overage players at the Olympics, will assist Mashaba at the regional competition which is set to take place in Namibia from June 11 to 25.
"It does not mean Reyaad will be one of the overage players going to the Olympics, but this is an opportunity to give him international experience.
"He is 24, so he is more or less in the same age group of the players we have. He needs game time at international level as he is one of the guys we are considering."
Da Gama added: "Khune is also one of the guys we are considering [as well as] Mhlongo. Having one of these guys in the team will give Jody the competition he needs. We need to give the under-23 boys a proper opportunity to play. We do not want to build a team around the overage players. Our goalkeepers have not been getting game time [at club level] and it is a concern."
Overseas-based players Lebogang Phiri and Lebo Mothiba have been included in the squad, while Mpumalanga Black Aces striker Judas Moseamedi, who scored five goals in the league this season, also has a chance to prove himself.
The team will go into camp next week Tuesday.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jody February (Ajax), Reyaad Pieterse (Chiefs), Nkosingiphile Gumede (Arrows)
Defenders: Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax), Repo Malepe (Swallows), Thembela Sikhakhane (Golden Arrows), Tebogo Moerane (Wits), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg United), Siphesihle Stuurman (Vasco da Gama)
Midfielders: Tshepo Rikhotso (Bloem Celtic), Abbubaker Mobara (Ajax), Maphosa Modiba (Aces), Gift Motupa (Pirates), Lebogang Phiri (Brondby, Denmark), Deolin Mekoa (Maritzburg), Phumlani Ntshangase (Wits), Keagan Dolly (Sundowns)
Strikers: Thabiso Kutumela (Baroka), Lebo Mothiba (Lille, France), Judas Moseamedi (Aces)
Youngsters to shake up Cosafa squad
National under-23 coach Owen da Gama is hoping the inclusion of Reyaad Pieterse in Bafana Bafana's Cosafa Cup squad will push the junior No1 Jody February.
A 20-man Cosafa Cup squad was revealed yesterday and is mostly made up of younger players, as Safa and senior coach Shakes Mashaba look to help the national under-23 team prepare for the upcoming Olympics.
Da Gama, who is considering including either Itumeleng Khune or Brighton Mhlongo as one of the overage players at the Olympics, will assist Mashaba at the regional competition which is set to take place in Namibia from June 11 to 25.
"It does not mean Reyaad will be one of the overage players going to the Olympics, but this is an opportunity to give him international experience.
"He is 24, so he is more or less in the same age group of the players we have. He needs game time at international level as he is one of the guys we are considering."
Da Gama added: "Khune is also one of the guys we are considering [as well as] Mhlongo. Having one of these guys in the team will give Jody the competition he needs. We need to give the under-23 boys a proper opportunity to play. We do not want to build a team around the overage players. Our goalkeepers have not been getting game time [at club level] and it is a concern."
Overseas-based players Lebogang Phiri and Lebo Mothiba have been included in the squad, while Mpumalanga Black Aces striker Judas Moseamedi, who scored five goals in the league this season, also has a chance to prove himself.
The team will go into camp next week Tuesday.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jody February (Ajax), Reyaad Pieterse (Chiefs), Nkosingiphile Gumede (Arrows)
Defenders: Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax), Repo Malepe (Swallows), Thembela Sikhakhane (Golden Arrows), Tebogo Moerane (Wits), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg United), Siphesihle Stuurman (Vasco da Gama)
Midfielders: Tshepo Rikhotso (Bloem Celtic), Abbubaker Mobara (Ajax), Maphosa Modiba (Aces), Gift Motupa (Pirates), Lebogang Phiri (Brondby, Denmark), Deolin Mekoa (Maritzburg), Phumlani Ntshangase (Wits), Keagan Dolly (Sundowns)
Strikers: Thabiso Kutumela (Baroka), Lebo Mothiba (Lille, France), Judas Moseamedi (Aces)
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos