Stiff test for Amaglug-glug
2005-12-27 21:27
Patrick Baloyi
Johannesburg - Amaglug-glug's hoodoo team, Nigeria, will be one of the countries taking part in next
month's Under-23 six-nations tournament to be held in Rustenburg from January 9-15.
Other countries to join Nigeria and the hosts are China, Senegal, Ivory Coast and probably
Lesotho, a country that has given Amaglug-glug a tough time recently.
The main purpose of the tournament is to give national coach Steve Khompela a chance to
assemble the best possible squad that will ensure that Amaglug-glug qualifies for the All Africa
Games to be held in Algeria in 2007 and the Olympic Games in Beijing a year later.
Khompela said the stage is set for the players to show him what they can do.
"After integrating the players from our identification structure, the Wonke Wonke programme,
it is time that we quickly move forward.
The tournament gives me a chance to introduce a winning mentality within the team. The
second step will be to get the best combination, talent, and the right technique."
The former Bafana Bafana assistant coach admitted that he will have a headache when
choosing his best 20 players for the tournament.
"It will be difficult because all the players will be looking forward to playing. With players also
coming from the Under-20 national team, it will be a challenge, but we are ready for it.
"I appeal to the people of Rustenburg and surrounding areas to support the future of South
African soccer.
"For the players who will be left out, the door is not closed. They must keep on working hard
and their turn will come. With the World Cup coming to us in 2010 it is important to have a
wide pool of players to choose from."
Khompela's aim is to surpass the 2000 Under-23 national team that qualified for the 2000 OIympics games in Sydney.
He said: "With the right attitude and mentality we can go a step better."
- Daily Sun