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amajita miss key players

Frustrated: coach Serame Letsoaka. Pic: Veli Nhlapo. 11/07/2006. © Sowetan.
Frustrated: coach Serame Letsoaka. Pic: Veli Nhlapo. 11/07/2006. © Sowetan.

AMAJITA preparations for the tough Fifa World Championships could be affected by the absence of some of their key players, whose teams seem to be loath to release them for a training camp.

AMAJITA preparations for the tough Fifa World Championships could be affected by the absence of some of their key players, whose teams seem to be loath to release them for a training camp.

The under-20 team camp starts on Monday and coach Serame "Rhee" Letsoaka is likely to be without Holland-based Kermit Erasmus, Dino Ndlovu of Platinum Stars and Ajax Cape Town's Daylon Claasen.

Erasmus plays club football at Feyenoord.

A frustrated Letsoaka said though he wrote letters to the three teams, he had yet to receive responses to his requests.

"I really don't know what is happening here but it looks like I will miss these players," Letsoaka said yesterday.

"I should have received letters from the players' respective teams confirming their availability by now.

"There is nothing that one can do about the situation because I can't force the clubs to release their players.

"I'm confident, though, that those available will make us proud in our friendly matches that we will play before the Egypt tournament."

Amajita will play two international friendlies against Angola at Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley, Northern Cape, on July 15 and 18.

The South Africans will also take part in the Four Nations tournament in Bulgaria later this month as they prepare for the competitive world championships in September.

About their opponents in Kimberley, Letsoaka said they were expecting sturdy resistance from the Angolans.

"But I think the players will give a good account of themselves.

"I also urge the people of Kimberley and surrounding areas to come in throngs to rally behind us."

However, Letsoaka is thrilled and encouraged about the players in the squad and stressed that 90percent of them will make the trip to Egypt.

The Amajita squad:

Thela Ngobeni (Kaizer Chiefs), Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits), Sibusiso Khumalo (Moroka Swallows), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Ajax Cape Town), Phumelele Bhengu (Moroka Swallows), Choppa Mboweni (Isibizo Sports Academy), Sibusiso Mxoyana (Orlando Pirates), Mandla Masango (Kaizer Chiefs), Sheldon Lawrence (Jomo Cosmos), Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Moroka Swallows), Mduduzi Nyanda (Orlando Pirates), Philane Khwela (Feyenoord), Thulane Serero (Ajax Cape Town), Sameehg Doutie (Ajax), Collen Zulu (SuperSport United), Thulane Ngcepe ( Swallows), Kamohelo Mokotjo (SuperSport United). - selebim@sowetan.co.za

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