SA Under-20 coach Raymond Mdaka has been appointed head coach of South Africa’s Under-23 side as the country begins its quest to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Among the 33 players called up to the inaugural selection camp are familiar names such as Stellenbosch winger Langelihle Phili, Kaizer Chiefs duo Mfundo Vilakazi and Naledi Hlongwane, and Orlando Pirates trio Simphiwe Selepe, Camren Dansin and Neo Rapoo.
Mdaka, who guided South Africa to the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco last year before leading the team to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Qatar, has assembled the squad as preparations begin for a demanding qualification campaign.
The 2028 Olympic Games will be held in the United States from 14 to 30 July 2028, with Africa’s preliminary qualification phase set to begin in September this year.
The six-day selection camp started on Wednesday and concludes on Monday, 6 July.
“We are basically preparing for the Olympic Games qualifiers, which will be staged in September, November and December on a home-and-away basis, so we decided to have this camp because we don’t have any other available dates, with the next window being too close to the qualifiers,” Mdaka said.
“We decided to call up mostly players who are playing regularly in the PSL, while others are from the NFD and the ABC Motsepe League.”
Among the 33-man squad are several players who featured for South Africa at last year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Qatar.
“A few of them are players we have not seen at all, so we are trying to have this kind of camp so that, when we get called upon, we know we have a team capable of representing the country.
“But what excites me is that about 60 percent of the players here were with us at the Under-20 COSAFA tournament. The door is not shut on anyone. This is a selection camp, and there are still players we have not called up, both locally and overseas,” Mdaka added.
The teams that progress through the September, November and December qualification rounds will secure places at next year’s Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, where the finalists will qualify for the Olympic Games.
Africa has been allocated two places in the men’s football tournament at the Olympic Games.
South Africa Under-23 selection camp squad:
Goalkeepers: Enrique Erasmus (AmaZulu), Takalani Mazhamba (Kaizer Chiefs), Kgoleng Ratisani (Sekhukhune United).
Defenders: Asekho Tiwani (Stellenbosch), Moses Mphekgoane (Orlando Pirates), Neo Rapoo (Orlando Pirates), Teboho Lekhatla (Casric Stars), Sfiso Timba (Gomora United), Surprise Manthosi (Polokwane City), Vincent Sithole (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siviwe Nkwali (Stellenbosch), Sibabalwe Valela (Cape Town Spurs), Mlondi Mncwango (TS Galaxy), Christian Derbyshire (Orlando Pirates), Sanele Simelane (Richards Bay).
Midfielders: Simphiwe Selepe (Orlando Pirates), Camren Dansin (Orlando Pirates), Mfundo Vilakazi (Kaizer Chiefs), Manelis Mazibuko (Siwelele FC), Vicky Mkhawani (Kaizer Chiefs), Siphesihle Nkosi (JBM/ViaSports), Khunganani Sigadi (NWU Mafikeng), Vuyolwethu Andries (Stellenbosch).
Forwards: Wandile Ngema (Richards Bay), Langelihle Phili (Stellenbosch), Thabang Mahlangu (Sekhukhune United), Bohlale Ngwato (Siwelele FC), Siphesihle Jeza (Siwelele FC), Lucky Malatsi (Polokwane City), Naledi Hlongwane (Kaizer Chiefs), Tauric Gamildien (Stellenbosch), Ofentse Kgosana (Casric Stars), Kamvalethu Shinta (Milford).
