The Vodacom-sponsored U20 National Team, Amajita, is currently in Botswana to prepare for two international friendly matches to be played with their Botswana counterparts. The two countries will clash tomorrow, Thursday, 18 August and again on Friday, 19 August 2005. Both matches kick off at 19h00.

Having beaten Botswana 2 - 1 and 4 - 0 in June this year, these two matches are part of a reciprocal agreement between the two Football Associations.

"We are busy trying to prepare a strong team capable of qualifying for the 2007 African Youth Championships. Having failed to qualify for the last Tournament, it is imperative that South Africa is represented in the next edition of the Tournament.

"Our hosting of the 2010 World Cup dictates that we give our young players as much international experience as we can and we can only get that by participating in as many major competitions at both youth and senior level as possible. It is matches like these against Botswana that provide us with the required starting blocks to enable us to build a formidable team that will see us through the qualifying phase and eventually to the final tournament. It is only then that we can gauge the level and quality of our players in comparison to other countries.

"In the squad that we selected there is a slight change to the Team that beat Botswana in June. This provides the new players with an opportunity to fight for positions in order to make it to the squad that will participate in the qualifying rounds of the African Youth Championships. After these two matches we will move to the next level of the building phase," stated U20 Head Coach, Styles Phumo.

Full squad:

GOALKEEPERS : Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Jackson Mabokgwane (School Of Excellence)

DEFENDERS: Kyle Alexander (UPE FC), Deshan Walters (UPE FC), Daren Dicks (Vasco da Gama), Mduduzi Zitha (East High College - Lowveld), Jabulani Mthombeni (Peoples Bank Spurs - Lowveld), Thabiso Khoeli (Harmony Academy)

MIDFIELDERS: Samuel Maloka (Galatarsaray), Stanley Yingwane (Young Royals - Lowveld), Tlou Segolela (Orlando Pirates), Mzikayise Ngwenyama (Junior Aces - Lowveld), Fabian Frank (Benoni Northrand F.C), Thulani Maseko (Orlando Pirates)

STRIKERS : Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates), Calvin Kadi (Jomo Cosmos), Daniel Hlabangane (Moroka Swallows).