Fired up for Fifa Under-20 games
THABO SENONG is confident his side will do well in the upcoming Fifa Under-20 World Cup despite not having the presence of star player, Phakamani Mahlambi in the squad.
This comes after Bidvest Wits refused to release their star player for the world event which will take place from May 20 to June 11, as they are still in the running for pushing to win their first league title under coach Gavin Hunt.
It appears highly unlikely the Braamfontein outfit will release the teenage sensation, Mahlambi, to join the National Under-20 side (amajita) which jetted off to South Korea yesterday, as they still have about two league games remaining before the league title is decided this season.
Senong said he had more than enough capable players to handle the pressure that comes with performing on the world stage with the whole world watching.
“To be honest with you, all of my energy is now focused on the current group of players I have with me right now for this world cup edition,” he said.
“We have three important games that we need to play and a very fit team to compete in all of them. We must never forget that we have quality players like Grant Magerman, Sibongakonke Mbatha and Luther Singh who are capable enough in leading the team in our attacking third. “With regards to players who are not here,” Senong added “We’ve got our Technical Director, Neil Tovey, who is dealing with the matter as we speak.”
Senong will need to make sure his side produces at least two wins and a draw in one of the toughest groups of this global showpiece.
Amajita are pitted in Group D and will first lock horns with Japan on May 21, before they play against the likes of Italy (May 24) and Uruguay (May 27) in pursuit for a place in the knockout stages of this competition.
That his Under-20 side will be competing against side’s who won their respective continental competitions, while Amajita finished fourth in their Caf Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations campaign back in Zambia, is not something Senong is intimidated by. In fact, the Under-20 coach is confident his side will do well in South Korea.
“Every team there has a chance of doing well in this tournament,” Senong said. “It will all depend on whether you believe in your players or not and your style of play you’ll be playing. We haven’t been at the World Cup for some time now, and so is the case with Japan whom we’ll face in our first group match. If we win or draw our first match in this tournament, then I believe that will give us the required confidence to do well in all of our remaining matches.”
Senong said: “We have no friendly matches lined-up for us except for the one we’ve secured against Costa Rica. But there are about 12 teams who are also preparing for the tournament, and chances are we’ll get more friendly matches when we arrive before the tournament starts.”