×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Cape players overlooked - De Sa

Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa says he has spoken to junior national team coaches not to disregard players who play in the Mother City.

The Urban Warriors have some of the best young talent in the country, but very few of their players have featured for junior national teams.

The likes of Musa Lebusa, Bantu Mzwakali, Tashreeq Morris and Riyaad Norodien have been phenomenal for an Ajax team that finished fifth in the Absa Premiership and lost out on penalties to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup last weekend.

"I think players from the Cape get overlooked because they do not get seen often enough. I have spoken to the national team coaches and they know where we are and they know what our players are all about. They can just watch PSL matches to see the players. Ajax has a reputation of producing so many youngsters," De Sa says.

But junior national teams coaches have not entirely forgotten about Ajax players.

The Urban Warriors have received call-up letters for some of their players, but they have not been released by the club because junior national team matches fall outside the Fifa calendar.

"One of the reasons is that national teams play when we play. Our players are not sitting on the bench or playing in the Diski [Challenge]. They're first team regulars, so it's difficult to release players. We can't release players who are in the starting line-up," De Sa says.

The national under-23 team will be involved in Olympic qualifiers from July, during pre-season, and coach Owen da Gama will be hoping Ajax and their PSL rivals will release players.

Da Gama lamented the fact that he did not have a strong squad after the All Africa Games and he needs the country's best players to have a shot at qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.