Mzuvele Skhosana and Bongani Sondlane of the Kaizer Chiefs U-17 have been named by national U-17 team coach Serame Letsoake as part of an eighteen man squad. He will be working with them over the next couple of months as South Africa aim to qualify for the 2007 African U-17 Championships to be hosted by Togo.

The duo was part of a training camp held by SAFA and the sponsors of the u-17 team First National Bank over the past week. Twenty five players cut down from the original number of forty were invited into this final training camp.

Another Chiefs junior player Qaphela Qongqo was also invited to the camp but was unable to make the cut into the last eighteen. In 2005 the South African U-17 team qualified for the junior African Championships for the first time, and narrowly missed out on a third place finish which would have been enough to secure their passage to the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup which was held in Peru.

As SAFA CEO Raymond Hack explains this crop of players have the opportunity to make a name for themselves.“We are grateful to our partners FNB whose positive support of the U17 National Team has seen the team produce positive results. We have no doubt that this new crop of players will go beyond Togo 2007 to the FIFA U17 World Cup. It is imperative that this Team fulfil the hopes of our country by becoming the first team to participate in the U17 FIFA Would Cup,” said Hack

The national under seventeen team is the only South African national team not to have a nickname, will begin their quest for continental and world glory in September when they will take on either Namibia and Botswana over two legs in the first qualifying round. The first leg matches which South Africa will be at home for will take place on the weekend of the 15th – 17th September and they will travel to Gabarone or Windhoek for the return leg on the weekend of the 29th September – 1st October.

The Under 17 team are:

GOALKEEPERS


1. Vumile Nxako Harmony Academy


2. Allan Thomas Moroka Swallows

DEFENDERS


3. Tshepo Gumede Royal Coastal


4. Ramahlwe Mphahlele Moroka Swallows


5. Koloko Mokhethi Harmony Academy


6. Masehela Karabo Supersport United


7. Mzuvele Skhosana Kaizer Chiefs


8. Thato Ferland Moroka Swallows

MIDFIELDERS


9. Thulasizwe Shange Royal Coastal


10. Ntshumaelo Thandani Supersport United


11. Serame Matalingoana Moroka Swallows


12. Daylon Classen Ajax Cape Town


13. Bongani Sondlane Kaizer Chiefs


14. Thulani Serero Ajax Cape Town


15. Steven Sheldon Eastern Cape

STRIKERS


16. Jabulani Langa Turfloop


17. Speedy Mabaso East High Academy


18. Kermit Erasmus Supersport United

STAND-BY PLAYERS:


1. Banqobile Tala Mpumalanga


2. Petrus Nyafoza Free State


3. Mbasa Shushu Eastern Cape


4. Thulani Ncepe Moroka Swallows