Thembinkosi Lorch, Percy Tau, Themba Zwane and Thulani Hlatshwayo are among the star names included in South Africa’s provisional Olympic squad.
The South African Olympic team head coach, David Notoane, announced his provisional squad in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games – to be held from 24 July to 9 August 2020 – on Tuesday as preparations for the showpiece event begin.
Notoane has named a massive 78-man squad of players who are under consideration, with the South African Football Association confirming that the squad is made up of 62 local players and 16 overseas-based stars. Notoane has selected eight goalkeepers, 27 defenders, 24 midfielders and 19 strikers.
Although it is a U21 tournament, each squad as per the rules can select up to three overage players in the final squad of 22, made up of 18 registered players, as well as four who should be on standby. The final list should be with Fifa on 1 July 2020.
‘We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to ensure that we take only the best to represent South Africa at this big stage. This is just a preliminary group of players that we think will be considered for the tournament, and as you can see it includes youngsters and seniors. The next few weeks will be very crucial as we will be running the rule over the players we believe will be best suited for this competition – it is a lovely headache to have because all the players on the list are good quality but unfortunately we can’t take all of them. We are confident that the group we will choose will do the business for the country, but for now we are monitoring all of them to see if they can make the final squad,’ said Notoane told Safa’s official website.
Provisional SA Olympic squad:
Goalkeepers: Mondli Mpoto (Bloemfontein Celtic), Darren Johnson (Ajax Cape Town), Andile Mbanjwa (Richards Bay), Sifiso Mlungwana (Golden Arrows), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Ricardo Goss (Bidvest Wits), Jody February (Cape Umoya), Darren Keet (OH Leuven FC, Belgium)
Defenders: Keanu Gregory Cupido (Cape Town City), Siyabonga Ngezana (Kaizer Chiefs), Kabelo Seriba (FC Metta, Latvia), Tercious Malepe (Chippa United), Sandile Mthethwa (Chippa United), Njabulo Blom (Kaizer Chiefs), Reeve Frosler (Kaizer Chiefs), Given Msimango (Highlands Park), James Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Bongani Sam (Orlando Pirates), Katlego Mohamme (University of Pretoria), Thendo Mukumela (Ajax Cape Town), Happy Mashiane (Kaizer Chiefs), Keegan Johannes (Ajax Cape Town), Jerry Msane (Highlands Park), Nikola Tavares (Crystal Palace, UK), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates, Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits), Keanin Ayer (Varbergs BolS, Sweden), Motjeka Madisha (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sibusiso Ngobeni (Bloemfontein Celtic), Sibusiso Mabiliso (AmaZulu), Rivaldo Coetzee (Mamelodi Sudowns), Taariq Fielies (Cape Town City), Rushin dE Reuck (Maritzburg United), Luke Fleurs (SuperSport United
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United), Athenkosi Dlala (University of Pretoria), Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United), Neo Gift Links (Cape Town City), Kamohelo Abel Mahlatsi (SuperSport United), Grant Margeman (Ajax Cape Town), Jamie Craig Webber (SuperSport United), Thabo Cele (Lova da Piedade FC, Portugal), Khanya Leshabela (Leicester City, England), Kgaogelo CHAUKE (Southampton, England), Siphesihle Maduna (AmaZulu), Kgotso Masangane (FC Metta, Latvia), Tasreeq Matthews (Varbergs BolS, Sweden), Bongani Zungu (Amiens SC, France), Siphesihle Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs), Sibongakonke Mbatha (TS Sporting), Sphelele Mkhulise (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates), Goodman Mosele (Baroka FC), Kgaogelo Sekota (Bidvest Wits), Aubrey Modiba (SuperSport United), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siphesihle Mkhize (Ajax Cape Town)
Strikers: Luther Singh (GD Chaves FC, Portugal), Jemondre Dickens (TS Sporting), Lyle Foster (AS Monaco, France), Liam Jordan (HB Koge, Denmark), Kobamelo Kodisang (Sporting Braga, Portugal), Itumeleng Shopane (Moroka Swallows), Phakamani Mahlambi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Hlongwane (Maritzburg United), Percy Tau (Club Brugge, Belgium), Lebo Mothiba (FC Strasbourg, France), Promise Mkhuma (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rowan Human (Bidvest Wits), Oswin Appolis (SuperSport United), Gift Motupa (Bidvest Wits), Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luvuyo Phewa (Real Kings), Fagrie Lakay (Cape Town City), Judas Moseamedi (Maritzburg United), Bonginkosi Ntuli (AmaZulu).
