[WATCH] Seven local laaities off to U17 Afcon
|Published
TALENT: Luke Baartman.
Seven of the Cape’s brightest football talents will represent South Africa at the U17 Afcon from the end of this month.
Kaapse legend and U17 national team coach Duncan Crowie on Tuesday named his final 21-man squad for the tournament in Algeria from April 29 to May 19.
Making the cut, Cape Town Spurs’ Gennaro Johnson is one of the options in goal.
Here we go!
— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) April 18, 2023
The South African 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 under - 17 squad to represent the country at the under-17 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Algeria from 29 April - 19 May 2023.
🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>💚![CDATA[]]>💛 pic.twitter.com/wPNbYPxv5i
In defence, Cape Town City’s Xhosa Manyama is joined by Stellenbosch’s Tyler Cicero, with Norwich’s Waylon Renecke adding an English flavour.
The middle of the park will see Xavier Jodamus of Ubuntu Academy and Spurs’ Dhakier Lee strut their stuff, as Liverpool U15 captain Gabriano Shelton misses out.
📺 Highlights of the U17 squad announcement ahead of the 2023 @CAF_Online U17 AFCON in Algeria pic.twitter.com/4ec2ABiYjH
— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) April 19, 2023
Up front, City’s Gabriel Amato could team up with Bayhill Premier Cup Player of the Series Luke Baartman from Spurs and Michael Dokumnu, who plays for Chelsea’s Dutch feeder club Vitesse.
SA face a nightmare Group C, with tests against Nigeria, Zambia, Morocco lying in wait.
SA U17 Afcon squad
GOALKEEPERS: Takalani Mzhawana, Gennaro Johnson (CT Spurs), Kyle Jansen. DEFENDERS: Xhosa Manyama (CT City), Keitumetsi Lesia, Waylon Renecke, Benjamin Wallace, Vincent Sithole, Tyler Cecero (Stellies), Thato Sibiya. MIDFIELDERS: Xolani Shaka, Gomolemo Kekana, Vicky Mkhawana, Xavier Jodamus (Ubuntu Academy), Dhakier Lee (Spurs). FORWARDS: Michael Dokumnu, Orifha Bright Naubelo, Bennet Mokoena, Gabriel Amato (CT City), Siyabonga Mabena, Luke Baartman (Spurs).