Posted in News on Oct 03, 2007.
Chiefs midfielder Thuso Phala has been recalled by Steve Komphela for the all-important clash with the Ghanaians, the twenty one year old midfielder last turned out for Amaglug Glug in an All Africa Game qualifying match against Botswana last year.
Phala is looking forward to using the game to re-establish himself in the national U-23 team, and believes that South Africa will have to work extra hard against the Ghanaians in Accra to have any ambitions of being part of the games in Beijing.
Tough Ask
The South Africa U-23 team have drawn one match and were soundly beaten by the Ghanaians in their other group game when the teams met in Potchefstroom just under a month ago. Phala believes that it will be a tough assignment for Amaglug Glug to come away from Accra with three points.
As tough a task as it may seem, Phala feels that the job needs to be done as he explained: “At the moment we have been written off and most people are saying it is between Ghana and Nigeria to fill the qualifying spot. If that is the feeling then I am fine with that as it helps us go there with less pressure and we will be able to perform better. All we need to do is go out there and play our normal game and be relaxed because the pressure is actually on them.”
The best you can be
While Phala is relishing the opportunity to once again don the colors of the national team, the Chiefs player, who will be joined in the Amaglug ranks by his Chiefs team mate Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Kaizer Chiefs U-19 player Wayne Matle, is determined to give it his best shot at breathing new life into Amaglug Glug’s slim hopes of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics.
“As a player one must take pride in the fact that you have been selected to play for your country, and that also means giving your best to ensure that the country is successful. We might be staring down the barrel here but if we go there with the right attitude, there is every possibility that we could cause an upset."
