David Notoane preparing for Tokyo Olympics without overseas-based stars

South Africa Under-23 coach David Notoane seems like a man resigned to losing his overseas-based players for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics next month.

Notoane who named an initial preliminary squad of 40 players for the Olympics, which included a plethora of options based abroad. The squad included the likes of recent Leicester City Premier League debutant Khanya Leshabela, Southampton’s Kgaugelo Chauke, Brighton’s Percy Tau and Gift Links of AGF Aarhus whose inclusion together with Belenenses midfielder Siphephelo Sithole had many excited.

READ | GIFT LINKS RULED OUT OF TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES – AGENT

Most recently, however, Notoane named a squad that was due to take part in a mini preparation tournament in the UAE, which saw some of those overseas-based players such as Leshabela and Sithole still included. The most recent squad announced by Notoane however, had people questioning the situation surrounding certain players as Portuguese-based Thabo Cele emerged as the only overseas-based player.

The thinking behind the selection of the squad going to Egypt for two preparation games has since been explained in greater detail by Notoane, who explained to SAFA that the overseas-based players were not omitted based on merit but rather through circumstance and that his selection reflects an attempt to try and prepare himself for the worst.

Notoane explains his team selection

“It’s been a very difficult week… once we’d confirmed the trip to Egypt because now you’ve got to ask yourself key questions like if I know Sithole, for example, isn’t at this stage a hundred percent available, do I take him now through this camp? Or do I start to prepare for the eventuality where his club will say we’re not going to release him?’’ Notoane asked.

“So in this camp, we went for a balancing act of saying let’s prepare for what could be at the end but also for those who’re available, we carry them with us and try to continue with our preparations.’’

He continued by stating, however, that he and SAFA have not given up hope and are still trying to find agreements with clubs over player availability.

We’ve had negotiations and we continue to have negotiations with the teams of our foreign-based players in terms of the availability of players,’’ said Notoane.

“The Olympics are not on the Fifa calendar, so clubs are not compelled to release the players. So, [with] Percy Tau [Brighton & Hove Albion], Sithole [Belenenses], Kgaogelo Chauke [Southampton], Khanya Leshabela [Leicester City] and Gift Links [Aarhus] specifically, there’s ongoing engagements with their clubs, who’ve rendered them unavailable for the Olympics for various reasons,’’ he concluded.

Full squad for Egypt friendlies

Goalkeepers: Mondli Mpoto, Lincoln Vyver, Sifiso Mlungwana

Defenders: Tercious Malepe, Katlego Mohamme, Thendo Mukumela, Luke Fleurs, Bongani Sam, Keanu Cupido, Kamogelo Mahlangu, Reeve Frosler

Midfielders: Luke Le Roux, Thabo Cele, Goodman Mosele, Athenkosi Dlala, Grant Margeman, Kobamelo Kodisang, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Rowan Human, Kamohelo Mahlatsi

Forwards: Fagrie Lakay, Luther Singh, Keletso Makgalwa, Lyle Foster, Liam Jordan