South Africa joins duo in Kenya

South Africa U-20 team has arrived in Kenya for a five-day camping ahead of the African Youth Championship set to start this Sunday in Kigali.

Monday, January 12, 2009

South Africa U-20 team has arrived in Kenya for a five-day camping ahead of the African Youth Championship set to start this Sunday in Kigali.

The Amajita joins Ghana and Cameroon, who have spent over a week winding on their preparations in Kenya.

According to Kickoff.com, Amajita left Johannesburg after two of their key players, Thulani Serero (Ajax Cape Town) and Bongani Sondlane (Kaizer Chiefs) had joined camp.

Unfortunately, head coach Serame Letsoaka will be without two other key players, Sibusiso Mxoyana and Collin Zulu, who were pulled out of the traveling party with hamstring and personal problems respectively.

Letsoaka says that he has also been in discussions with Moroka Swallows and is expecting Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Phumelele ‘Ace’ Bhengu to join the team in the coming days for the final preparations in Kenya.

"I am grateful that these players (Serero and Sondlane) could join us in camp as this will help strengthen our overall squad.

"It would of course be much better if all the requested players could be available. But we know by now that we will indeed have challenges and like I said before, we will have to make use of the resources that we have available to us and make the best of the situation,” said Letsoaka.

South Africa are in Group B alongside Egypt, Nigeria and Ivory Coast at the eight–nation tournament.

South Africa’s first match is against Nigeria on 19 January, followed by a clash with Egypt on 22 January. Finals of the African Youth Championship.

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