Amakhosi national Under-20 player Lawrence Tlou Molekwane is Chiefs representative in a 22-man South African development team made up mainly of players from first division clubs as well as fringe and youth team players from PSL teams. That will take on a similarly made-up Botswana team in two friendly matches to be played on the 22nd and 28th April, prior to their first qualifying game in the newly formed CAF African Championships of Nations against Mauritius on May 3.

The team which will not earn caps or play in the same colours as Bafana Bafana for the two friendly matches, will be coached by national U-20 team coach Serame Letsoaka.

Molekwane believes that this though is a break for him and the opportunity to prepare himself for when he becomes a full member of the Chiefs first team for the 2008 – 2009 season.

Looking ahead

Molekwane signed professional papers with Chiefs around eighteen months ago and has recently began training full time with the Chiefs first team, in addition to keeping to his commitments with the Chiefs reserves and junior teams. He was also one of five Chiefs players who played in a friendly game for the national U-20 team under Letsoaka recently.

Commenting on what he described as welcome break Molekwane said. “I see playing in these matches for this team as a step up from playing with the Chiefs junior teams as well as the national u-20’s. It is the chance for me to develop further by playing in somewhat tougher competition will be good for me to test myself, my hope is that I am able to play and play well in these matches against the Botswana team”.

Buccaneers send off

Molekwane’s last job prior to heading off to join the SAFA Development team, was to help the Chiefs U-20 team earn some bragging rights defeating their Soweto counterparts Orlando Pirates in a league match on Sunday afternoon. He featured as a central midfielder in the match where he earned praise for the way he marshalled the midfield and opened up the Pirates defence as he created chances for the front man.

As Molekwane explained he is at home in midfield or in defence as he said, “I played in midfield on Sunday and it was a tough game and I enjoyed battling with the strong Pirates defenders and midfielders. The midfield is my favoured area in which to operate, I have played in defence for the national u-20 team, which I can adapt to playing as well as the midfield”.