Amajimbos gear up for Burkina Faso
Amajimbos gear up for Burkina Faso
Posted: 2010-09-03 16:12
The South African national Under-17 men's team (Amajimbos) will kick off preparations for the second leg of the African Youth Championship qualifiers on Monday.
The second leg encounter against Burkina Faso will be played on Saturday, September 11, in Ouagadougou.
Amajimbos assistant coach Mandla Mazibuko will spearhead the process in the absence of head coach Solly Luvhengo who is currently assisting the Under-17 women's team in their Fifa World Cup preparations.
Coach Mazibuko says South Africa's 4-2 first leg victory has to be defended at all cost in Burkina Faso. Mazibuko has made only one change to the squad that registered a hard fought win at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa last week.
Goalkeeper Samora Motloung of Old Mutual Academy is replaced by Scele Cele from Golden Arrows FC.
Mazibuko says he is not going to make any changes to the approach and game plan as the team is now accustomed to the philosophy that the coaching staff has introduced when they first assembled in February 2009.
"Burkina Faso are a very good team; they showed their pedigree in the first leg by scoring two quick goals. But I'm satisfied with the amount of work we have done with this team over the past few months, and staging a comeback to win the match 4-2 was a true reflection of great character.
"Obviously the second leg is a different ball game, we are playing away from home and the preparations will be customized for this away fixture. The Association's Technical Director Serame Letsoaka is joining us in camp; he will bring the necessary support after having coached our junior national teams for many years in similar circumstances. Our task is to remain focused and play with passion and pride because there is a lot at stake in this fixture;" said Mazibuko.
Amajimbos will have two training sessions a day at Marks Park, on Monday and Tuesday respectively, and will travel to Burkina Faso on Wednesday, September 8. The team will return to South Africa on September 13.
The squad is:
Goalkeepers - Njabulo Kubheka (Supersport United), Stanton Weir (Ajax Cape Town), Scele Cele (Golden Arrows
Defenders - Siyabulela Mose (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nthuthuko Radebe (Aspire Academy (Qatar), Thabo Moloi (Supersport United), Jino Moeketsi (Supersport United), Nkululeko Tshangane (Kaizer Chiefs), Khumbulani Mkhize (Orlando Pirates), Menzi Ngcobo (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders - Happy Simelela( Aspire Academy (Qatar), Phakamani Mngadi (AspireAcademy (Qatar), Thabo Zungu (Supersport United), Sandile Khoza (Orlando Pirates), Boitumelo Xaba (Kaizer Chiefs), Maselaelo Seanego (Kaizer Chief), Lehlohonolo Makara (Junior Lions)
Strikers - Simukelo Zondo (Fubs United), Thabani Mthembu (Kaizer Chiefs), Siseko Manona (School of Excellence)
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