South Africa’ U23 side have announced their starting XI for the much-awaited opener against hosts Japan.
David Notoane and his team didn’t have the best preparations for the tournament after two preparation camps were cancelled and the team experienced several Covid-19 scares.
Five players had to withdraw from the squad due to medical reasons, while they were in quarantine over the weekend after three members of their team tested positive.
However, all of it will count little on the pitch, as SA’s U23 side take on hosts Japan at 13:00, SA time, on Thursday.
South Africa take part in their second successive Olympics after 2016, when they held hosts Japan to a goalless draw in the opening game before losing 1-0 to Denmark and drawing 11 with Iraq.
Here is how they line up:
South Africa XI: Williams, Frosler, Mabiliso, Malepe, Mukumela, Fleurs, Mosele, Mokoena, Cele, Singh, Makgopa.
Japan XI: Tani, Sakai, Nakayama, Itakura, Yoshida, Endo, Kubo, Miyoshi, Doan, Tanaka, Hayashi
