Amajita building for Zambia
RAMAJOE: WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE CLUBS
National Under-20 team manager Levy Ramajoe has confirmed that the South African Football Association has sent letters to clubs for players they have selected for the first phase of the Amajita camp ahead of the 2017 Cosafa Under-20 Championship, to be staged in Zambia from December 6-16.
Speaking to Phakaaathi, the Under-20 team manager says the squad will be made up of players that have graduated from the national Under-17 team like Orlando Pirates striker Lyle Foster, while the Kaizer Chiefs pair of Wiseman Meyiwa and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo will be familiar faces in the squad.
“We have sent letters to the respective teams regarding all the players we have selected for the first phase of the camp which starts on the 26th of November.
“There will be quite a number of new players in the team, particularly those who have graduated from the under-17 team,” said Ramajoe.
“Lyle Foster is one of the new players in the squad.
“He was also part of the Under-20 team that travelled to London to take part in friendly games against Brazil and England in Sepwith tember. So, yes, only a few players who have been part of Amajita for a while still qualify to play.
“Meyiwa and Ngcobo are some of the players who have received call-ups because they are still eligible to play for the Under-20 team.”
At the tournament, South Africa have been paired against North African guest nation Egypt, as well as Mozambique and Mauritius in Group B, while Group A consists of defending champions Zambia, Swaziland, East African guest nation Uganda and Malawi.
Group C sees Angola, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe set to lock horns for a place in the semifinals.
Ramajoe added that the final Amajita squad would be announced on December 1 prior to travelling to Kitwe for their first group stage game against Mozambique on December 7 at Nkana Stadium.
Amajita will then play Mauritius at the same venue on December 10, before moving to Arthur Davies Stadium for the final group stage game against Egypt on December 12th.
Nations who are on top of their respective groups after the final round of games will qualify for the semifinals, along with best runners-up in the three groups.