Coach Duncan Crowie names final squad for Under-17 AFCON

Coach Duncan Crowie names final squad for Under-17 AFCON

South African under-17 national team coach Duncan Crowie has announced a 21-man squad for the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The CAF tournament will take place in Algeria from 29 April-19 May 2023.

The team reported for camp on 9 April 2023 with 28 players at the SAFA National Technical Centre (Fun Valle). 

COACH DUNCAN CROWIE OPTIMISTIC 

“No one in the preparation camp was a bad player. Everyone was a talented player, but unfortunately, we had to select only 21,” said Crowie at a Press Conference held at SAFA House on Tuesday afternoon. 

“This is not my party as the coach, but this is the party of the 21 players that are selected. It’s all about them and it is beyond the technical team. They are the ones who will represent the country.

“So far I am happy with the preparations and I hope that we can continue in the same vein towards the tournament.”

Duncan Crowie has named the final squad for Under-17 AFCON
SA Under-17 Squad in training ahead of the Afcon in Algeria

The team is expected to depart for Algeria on Friday, 21 April 202

UNDER-17 SQUAD FOR AFCON 

Goalkeepers:

Takalani Mazhamba (Kaizer Chiefs FC)

Gennaro Johnson (Cape Town Spurs FC)

Kyle Jansen (Atlanta United FC)

Defenders:

4. Xhosa Manyama (Cape Town City FC)

5. Keitumetse Lesia (Supersport United FC)

6. Waylon Renecke (Norwich City FC)

7. Benjamin Wallace (Supersport United FC)

8. Vincent Sithole (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

9. Tyler Cicero (Stellenbosch FC)

10. Thato Sibiya (Mamelodi Sundowns FC0

Midfielders:

11. Xolani Tshaka (Orlando Pirates FC)

12. Gomolemo Kekana (TS Galaxy FC)

13. Vicky Mkhawana (Kaizer Chiefs FC)

14. Xavier Jodamus (Ubuntu Academy)

15. Dhakier Lee (Cape Town Spurs FC)

Forwards:

16. Luke Baartman (Cape Town Spurs FC)

17. Michael Dokunmu ( Vittese FC)

18.Orifha Maubelo (Capital City FC)

19. Bennet Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)

20. Gabriel Amato (Capital City FC)

21. Siyabonga Mabena (Mamelodi Sundowns FC

Crowie unveils players for 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations 

Crowie unveils players for 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations 

SA Under-17 coach Duncan Crowie has announced a list of players for a camp that will be used to select the final squad for the 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria. 

Crowie’s charges will go into camp on the 9 April 2023 and then the coach will announce his final AFCON-bound team on 15 April 23.

Also read: Crowie happy with SA’s preparations for Under-17 Afcon COSAFA qualifier

This year’s U/17 AFCON tournament will be held in Algeria from 29 April to 19 May 2023 and South Africa are pitted against Nigeria, Morocco and Zambia in Group B.

Crowie recently conducted a selection camp at the SAFA National Technical Centre (Fun Valley). 

The camps are part of his preparations for the continental completion in Algeria and the coach believes they have been a hugely beneficial exercise.

Duncan Crowie unveils players for 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations
Duncan Crowie and Aaron Mokoena unveils players for 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations

SA Preliminary squad for 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations 

GOALKEEPERS

Takalani Mzhawana  (Kaizer Chiefs), Gennaro Johnson (Cape Town Spurs),  Kyle Jansen (Atlanta United).

DEFENDERS

Khosa Manyama (Cape Town Spurs), Gabriano Shelton (Liverpool, England), Keitumetsi Lesia (Supersport United), Waylon Renecke (Norwich, England). Benjamin Wallace (Supersport United), Bonginkosi Phala (Getafe, Spain), Vincent Sithole (Mamelodi Sundowns). Tyler Cecero (Stellenbosch), Neo Rapoo (Supersport United), Thato Sibiya (Mamelodi Sundowns).

MIDFIELDERS

Xolani Tshaka (Orlando Pirates), Sfiso Timba (Kaizer Chiefs), Gomolemo Kekana (TS Galaxy), Vicky Mkhawana (Kaizer Chiefs). Aphelele Mkhize  (Maritzburg United) Xavier Jodamus (Ubuntu Academy),  Thuto Mojanang (Feyenoord, Holland), Dhakier Lee (Cape Town Spurs). 

FORWARDS

Michael Dokumnu (Vitesse, Holland), Orifha Bright Naubelo (Capital City), Bennet Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Aaron Sloch Rydell (Nordsjaelland, Denmark). Gabriel Amato (Cape Town City), Lucas Jetten (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland), Tyrese Davids (Supersport United), Ofentse Kgosana (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Mabena (Mamelodi Sundowns). 

RELATED POST: 

Crowie happy with SA’s preparations for Under-17 Afcon COSAFA qualifier

Crowie happy with SA’s preparations for Under-17 Afcon COSAFA qualifier

National Under-17 coach Duncan Crowie is happy with the way things have gone ahead of his side’s participation in the football competition at the COSAFA Region 5 Games in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA qualifier and the Under-17 Girls’ Championship get underway this week. Both Crowie and Delisilwe Mbatha, the South African Under-17 women’s national team coach, are raring to go.

“So far I am happy with the way the preparations have gone,” he said to www.safa.net.

COSAFA QUALIFIER

The football competitions will be staged between December 1-12 and Crowie’s charges are in Group B together with Zambia, Mozambique and the Seychelles. Hosts Malawi, Botswana, Namibia and Angola are in Group A.

Mbatha’s charges are in Group A together with Malawi and Namibia. Zambia, Botswana and Comoros.

“But like I said, I am happy with the preparations and the most important thing is for us as the technical team to make sure that occasion does not get too big for the players,” said Crowie.

“We have to ensure that the players concentrate on the soccer side of things. Then I think half the battle will be won. But we will see how it goes. In football you never know what will happen next, but we will make sure we keep the guys grounded, focused and mentally prepared.

“Physically I think we are on the right track, and we are looking forward to this tournament.”

Mbatha told www.safa.net this week that they were determined to make the country proud.

“We are determined to go through the group stages. It would be nice to finish top in our group so that we face second-placed side in Group B. We want to go all the way and bring the trophy home,’’ said Mbatha.