By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@BackpagePix.
South Africa U17 head coach Duncan Crowie has announced the final squad heading to the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria.
The crop of players includes several overseas-based players but the likes of Arron Rydell (Nordsjaelland), Lucas Jetten (AFC Ajax), and Thuto Mojanang (Feyenoord), who were named in the preliminary squad, were unable to honour the call-ups for the training camp and eventually omitted from the final squad.
SuperSport United defender Benjamin Wallace, who was recently in England for an assessment with Lincoln City and Fulham, will lead the team as captain and he will likely form the centre-back pairing in Algeria together with Waylon Renecke from Norwich City.
Promising Vitesse playmaker Michael Dokumnu, who is eligible to represent the Netherlands and Nigeria – as well as Atlanta United goalkeeper Kyle Jansen also made the cut.
South Africa are in Group B alongside Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia for the tournament that runs between 29 April and 19 May.
South Africa U17 squad in full:
GOALKEEPERS: Takalani Mzhawana – Kaizer Chiefs [SA], Gennaro Johnson – Cape Town Spurs [SA], Kyle Jansen Atlanta United [USA].
DEFENDERS: Xhosa Manyama – Cape Town Spurs [SA], Keitumetsi Lesia – Supersport United [SA], Waylon Renecke – Norwich City [England]. Benjamin Wallace – Supersport United [SA], Vincent Sithole – Mamelodi Sundowns [SA], Tyler Cecero – Stellenbosch [SA], Thato Sibiya – Mamelodi Sundowns [SA].
MIDFIELDERS: Xolani Shaka – Orlando Pirates [SA], Gomolemo Kekana – TS Galaxy [SA], Vicky Mkhawana – Kaizer Chiefs [SA], Xavier Jodamus – Ubuntu Academy [SA], Dhakier Lee – Cape Town Spurs [SA].
FORWARDS: Michael Dokumnu – Vitesse [Holland], Orifha Bright Naubelo – Capital City – [SA], Bennet Mokoena – Mamelodi Sundowns [SA], Gabriel Amato – Cape Town City [SA], Siyabonga Mabena – Mamelodi Sundowns [SA], Luke Baartman – Capital City – [SA].