Two Kaizer Chiefs stars called up to SA under-23 squad

Two Kaizer Chiefs stars have been chosen for South Africa’s Under-23 squad who will face Togo within the 2023 AFCON Second Round qualifier.

Goalkeeper Bontle Molefe and attacking midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala are the 2 Kaizer Chiefs’ representatives within the squad whereas Cassius Mailula is the lone Mamelodi Sundowns participant who made the reduce.

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The South Africans had a bye within the first spherical whereas Togo had been in motion final month, beating Mauritania 2-1 to set up the two-legged date towards David Notoane’s fees.

NOTOANE – WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE IN SELECTING THE SQUAD

“Selecting this squad has been very challenging because we had a bye when Togo faced Mauritania, and we did not have any official practice matches during the previous FIFA window. Now with other teams having played already, they have a sense of where their squads are,” Notoane stated as per SAFA website.

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The two matches towards Togo will probably be performed outdoors of the FIFA calendar and Notoane, who led the U23s to the Tokyo Olympics final 12 months, stated he hopes all of the gamers will probably be out there to symbolize the nation effectively throughout this Olympic journey.

“We had to put together a team that will be able to give us an advantage in the first leg, secure a victory first, try not to concede and come away with a clean sheet in Togo, which will be very difficult in a hostile environment and  with altitude also a very important factor to consider,” he added.

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“So with [PSL] groups rendering sure gamers unavailable due to their hectic programmes, and likewise taking a look at the truth that some gamers will probably be required to honour their membership commitments up till Wednesday, we had to discover an excellent steadiness in ensuring we have now a squad that’s robust sufficient to compete, and contemporary sufficient to  find a way to take care of the circumstances in West Africa, in Togo.

NOTOANE CONFIDENT IN THE SQUAD

“In phrases of choosing the gamers, we had a whole lot of engagements with the PSL, with the golf equipment immediately to see which gamers can be found. We additionally requested some fixtures, particularly within the ABC Motsepe League, to be moved. Those are among the challenges we had to overcome in finalizing the squad. But one is assured that we have now put collectively a staff that will probably be robust sufficient, aggressive sufficient and we must always find a way to come out of Togo with one thing constructive.

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“We have even gone further and looked at the South African Under-20 squad playing in the COSAFA tournament in Swaziland and a few of the players there have shown tremendous talent and ability. Seeing that they are already active and in competition, we are also considering selecting one or two of them to give us depth and options due to the unavailability of certain players.”

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TWO CHIEFS PLAYERS INCLUDED IN THE SQUAD