Youngsters in the spotlight

SAB League U21 provincial trials are set to attract many amateurs to the Zwelitsha Stadium just outside King William’s Town today.

Provincial SA Football Association (Safa) technical officer, Desmond Lewis said the selected team would participate in the National SAB League U21 tournament set to be played on July 16-21 in Durban.

He said only players born on and after January 1, 1997, will be allowed to participate in the trials.

“Only players playing in the SAB League and LFA leagues can participate in the trials. Each of the eight regions is expected to send a team of players to the trials,” he said.

Lewis said they were going to be checking for players with potential in their age group.

“We’ve had our first batch of players that we selected at the SAB League playoffs that were recently held at the army base in Grahamstown.

“So on Saturday we’ll be selecting the final squad,” said Lewis.

He said players had to bring their A-game if they wanted to be selected in the squad but should always remember the basics of playing football.

“We’ll look at the techniques, tactics and the mindset of the players so they should consider all those things.

“We have specific things that we’re looking for in our defenders as well as the midfielders and goalkeepers.

“The conditioning of the players must be tops and also we’ll consider height not that it’s a must.”

Lewis emphasised the importance of being able to pass properly as well as to dribble, plus other important factors when playing the ball.

He said in order to avoid what happened at last year’s instalment of the U21 championships where the provincial team was said to have fielded two ineligible players – who were later disqualified — players needed to be honest.

“They need to carry their identity documents and Safa-issued playing cards because that will be our age guideline.”