Posted in News on Mar 04, 2004.
The odds are against the South African under-23 soccer team qualifying for the Olympic Games - but they could be there yet.
Amaglug-glug, as the Sasol sponsored team is affectionately known, are languishing at the bottom of Group D with only three points from one victory against three losses.
Whether they make it to Athens will be decided by other countries. A defeat against Ghana in the second leg at HM Pitje Stadium near Pretoria on March 13 will confirm Amaglu-glug's exclusion.
The South Africans must win their remaining two games against Ghana and Algeria. The Ghanaians beat South Africa 1-0 in Accra in October last year, while Amaglug-glug humiliated the Algerians with a 4-1 drubbing in December.
Ghana and Zambia are joint leaders in Group D with seven points each. The two countries are separated by their goals-against difference.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Chad Harpur (Manning Rangers), Jacob Mokhasi (Wits University)
Defenders: Derrick Spencer (Kaizer Chiefs), Sakhile Mhlangu (Golden Arrows), Morgan Gould (Jomo Cosmos), Tsietsi Mahoa (Wits University), Edward Malinga (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Gift Leremi (Orlando Pirates), Joseph Makhanya (Orlando Pirates), Gert Schalkwyk (Wits University), Siphesihle Ngobese (Golden Arrows), Papi Zotwane (Golden Arrows), Andile Cele (Orlando Pirates)
Strikers: Giovanni Rector (Royal Excelsior), Mabhuti Khanyeza (Golden Arrows), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates), Ryan Botha (Inter Turku-ry), Thando Mngomeni (Helsingborg).