South Africa U23 Coach Raymond Mdaka has started preparation for the qualification of the 2028 Olympic Games by inviting a 33-man selection squad which includes the likes of Mfundo Vilakazi and Cemran Dansin.
The 2028 Olympics are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from 14-30 July 2028 with Africa having two slots in the football category.
The preliminary qualifying stages in Africa start in September into December this year, with the qualifying teams going to fight it off at the U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) next year where the two finalists will make it to the multi-sport coded event.
Mdaka’s camp started last week Wednesday and is set to conclude on Monday 6 July with the squad that posses majority players who did duty for the national side at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Qatar last year.
The coach was quoted in Safa.com saying the door is not closed to players who haven’t made it to this latest camp.
“We decided to call up most of the players who are playing in the PSL, some in the NFD and some in the ABC Motsepe League who are playing regularly in their teams,” said Mdaka.
“A few of them are those that we have not seen at all, so we just trying to have this kind of a camp so that at least even if when we get called, we know we have got a team that can be able to represent.
“But what excites me is that about 60 percent of the players here were with us together at the U20 COSAFA. But the door is not shut on anyone, this is a selection camp and there are some players we have not called up, locally and overseas based.”
Pirates and Stellenbosch FC have the most players in the squad, with five, followed by Chiefs with four.
Below is the full squad:
1 Enrique ERASMUS GK – Amazulu FC KZN
2 Takalani MAZHAMBA GK – Kaizer Chiefs FC Gauteng
3 Kgoleng RATISANI GK – Sekhukhune Utd Gauteng
4 Asekho TIWANI LCB – Stellenbosch FC W. Cape
5 Moses MPHEKGOANE RCB – Orlando Pirates Gauteng
6 Neo RAPOO LB – Orlando Pirates Gauteng
7 Teboho LEKHATLA LB – Casric Stars FC MP
8 Sfiso TIMBA RB – Gomora United FC Gauteng
9 Surprise MANTHOSI RB – Polokwane City FC Limpopo
10 Simphiwe SELEPE CM – Orlando Pirates Gauteng
11 Cemran DANSIN CM – Orlando Pirates Gauteng
12 Wandile NGEMA LW – Richards Bay FC KZN
13 Mfundo VILAKAZI AM – Kaizer Chiefs FC Gauteng
14 Manelis MAZIBUKO AM – Siwelele FC Gauteng
15 Vicky MKHAWANI CM – Kaizer Chiefs MP
16 Langelihle PHILI LW – Stellenbosch FC W. Cape
17 Thabang MAHLANGU CF – Sekhukhune Utd NW
18 Bohlale NGWATO LW – Siwelele FC Gauteng
19 Vincent SITHOLE RCB – Mamelodi Sundowns Gauteng
20 Siphesihle NKOSI CM – JBM/ViaSports Gauteng
21 Siphesihle JEZA RW – Siwelele FC Gauteng
22 Siviwe NKWALI RB – Stellenbosch FC W. Cape
23 Vuyolwethu ANDRIES CM – Stellenbosch FC W. Cape
24 Khunganani SIGADI CM – NWU-Mafikeng N. West
25 Sibabalwe VALELA RB – CT Spurs FC W. Cape
26 Lucky MALATSI CF – Polokwane city N. West
27 Mlondi MNCWANGO LCB – TS Galaxy FC Gauteng
28 Naledi HLONGWANE CF – Kaizer Chiefs FC Gauteng
29 Sanele SIMELANE LB – Richards Bay FC KZN
30 Tauric GAMILDIEN CF – Stellenbosch FC W. Cape
31 Ofentse KGOSANA LW – Casric Stars FC MP
32 Christian DERBYSHIRE LCB – Orlando Pirates Gauteng
33 Kamvalethu SHINTA CF – Milford FC KZN