South Africa U23 head coach Raymond Mdaka has admitted that Madagascar remain something of an unknown quantity ahead of their Olympic Games qualifiers, with the two nations set to meet at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.
Mdaka revealed that Bafana Bafana’s senior team analysts have also been unable to gather much information on their opponents, making preparations for the encounter particularly challenging.
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“Honestly, Madagascar is a very closed book. We have tried with whoever, including our senior team analysts, because they were not there in 2024 with COSAFA in Mozambique, this is the age group,” he explained.
“We checked everywhere where we could find something, it remains a closed book, but other than that, we always have a way – as the technical team and coaches, to find something. It’s challenging, but we always have a way out.”
Meanwhile, Mdaka also discussed the challenges of putting together his final squad, with several familiar faces returning to the group, including Shandre Campbell, Thato Sibiya and Thabang Mahlangu.
However, Gabi Amato and Siviwe Magidigidi are among those who miss out, with the coach highlighting the importance of having a wider preliminary pool to help manage selections.
“With the kind of talent we have, it will always be a challenge, always be difficult, mostly to come up with 23 players. We have got a pool – that preliminary group we put together helps us to juggle around [selections],” he continued.
“What do we do when we juggle around? We always try to find players who are playing regularly, players who have minutes. Yes, there’s injuries, but this pool helps us juggle around, but at the same time, looking at the competency, how good they are.
“Some might not be getting minutes to justify [selection], but sometimes it’s better to stay with what we know better than something we don’t know.”
With a place in the next stage of the Olympic qualification campaign at stake, Mdaka will be hoping his side can overcome the uncertainty surrounding Madagascar and make home advantage count at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium this week.