National under-23 coach Owen da Gama will consider selecting an over-aged central defender to bring in much- needed leadership at the back for the upcoming Olympics in Rio.
A big concern for Da Gama has been the team's defending, which saw them concede seven goals in five matches at the African under-23 Championship in Senegal.
They conceded three in a friendly against Brazil on Sunday in Maceio, their first match since qualifying for the Olympics in December.
Teams that have qualified for the Olympics are allowed to select three over-aged players.
"We have to get the right combinations. That's why we brought in guys like Kgosi Ntlhe and [Lorenzo] Gordinho, just to try and get the right combinations," said Da Gama yesterday. "We are still battling [in defence], but we were much better in the second half against Brazil.
"We will look at other players and maybe get over-aged players to stabilise things at the back. It could help with leadership at the back."
Lebogang Mothiba of Lille in France scored the under-23s' only goal in the 3-1 defeat to the Brazilians on Sunday.
Barring injury, Mothiba is the man Da Gama will bank on for goals at the Olympics.
"Lebogang Mothiba scored and then hit the post when we were down 2-1 against Brazil. It shows the quality he has.
"He is strong, quick and he is a number nine. He is a future Bafana player, but he needs to play regularly at Lille.
"He could be loaned out to KV Oostende, where Jali is playing."
Da Gama is hoping the team can get more matches against tough opposition before the Olympics. There's a possibility that the team will play at the Toulon tournament in France in May, but Da Gama is yet to receive feedback from Safa.
"We have to gel as a team, so we need to play top quality sides to get better. We are not going to be shy to say this, but the team still needs a lot of work before we can be ready for the Olympics.
"It's important for us to be at the Toulon tournament. We are keeping out fingers crossed that the bosses at Safa will make this a possibility."
Da Gama to call on experience
National under-23 coach Owen da Gama will consider selecting an over-aged central defender to bring in much- needed leadership at the back for the upcoming Olympics in Rio.
A big concern for Da Gama has been the team's defending, which saw them concede seven goals in five matches at the African under-23 Championship in Senegal.
They conceded three in a friendly against Brazil on Sunday in Maceio, their first match since qualifying for the Olympics in December.
Teams that have qualified for the Olympics are allowed to select three over-aged players.
"We have to get the right combinations. That's why we brought in guys like Kgosi Ntlhe and [Lorenzo] Gordinho, just to try and get the right combinations," said Da Gama yesterday. "We are still battling [in defence], but we were much better in the second half against Brazil.
"We will look at other players and maybe get over-aged players to stabilise things at the back. It could help with leadership at the back."
Lebogang Mothiba of Lille in France scored the under-23s' only goal in the 3-1 defeat to the Brazilians on Sunday.
Barring injury, Mothiba is the man Da Gama will bank on for goals at the Olympics.
"Lebogang Mothiba scored and then hit the post when we were down 2-1 against Brazil. It shows the quality he has.
"He is strong, quick and he is a number nine. He is a future Bafana player, but he needs to play regularly at Lille.
"He could be loaned out to KV Oostende, where Jali is playing."
Da Gama is hoping the team can get more matches against tough opposition before the Olympics. There's a possibility that the team will play at the Toulon tournament in France in May, but Da Gama is yet to receive feedback from Safa.
"We have to gel as a team, so we need to play top quality sides to get better. We are not going to be shy to say this, but the team still needs a lot of work before we can be ready for the Olympics.
"It's important for us to be at the Toulon tournament. We are keeping out fingers crossed that the bosses at Safa will make this a possibility."
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