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Botswana tell SA U-23 foes

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

The South African Under-23 national soccer side is wrapping up their preparations for Sunday's clash against Botswana in Gaborone.

This will be during the second lege of their All Africa Games qualifier at the National Stadium at 3.30pm.

South Africa go into this crucial game with a 2-0 lead from the first leg, where Lebo Mokoena and Erwin Isaacs scored.

The overall winners of the two-legged qualifier will book themselves a place in the finals, scheduled for Algeria in July.

However, Botswana's striker, Thebe Maiketso, has warned South Africa to "stop fooling themselves about qualifying for the finals".

"We have never lost at home and are not even planning to do that on Sunday. The plan is to go for two quick goals to unsettle the South Africans.

"We know that South Africa have an array of big names, but it will be 11 against 11 on the pitch. They are human beings like us, we are not scared of them.

"We are on a mission to make history by becoming the first Botswana Olympic soccer side to qualify for the All Africa Games," said Maiketso.

Despite still being in the dark regarding the coming of Belgium-based Masilo Modubi and Jeffrey Ntuka, the South Africans are still adamant that they will qualify.

"Everybody is looking forward to the match. The aim is to qualify and use the finals as part of our preparations for the Olympics," said coach Steve Komphela.

Besides Mokoena and Isaacs, other players who carry South Africa's hopes include Sibusiso Hadebe, Vincent Kobola and Daine Klate.

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