The Castle Lager Football Academy graduates continue to shine on the local footballing scene. Three graduates have once again been called up for the U/23 National Team squad which will be taking on Sudan, in the All Africa Games 2nd leg qualifier match this Saturday, 11 April at the Dobsonville Stadium.
Sifiso Nkosi who plays his club football for North West University, Vaal Campus (NWU Vaal), Deolin Mekoa who plies his trade for Premier League side, Maritzburg United and Bafana Dlamini from Remember Academy in the SAB League have been roped into the squad by coach Owen Da Gama.
The three players were previously given an opportunity to train with the Senior Men’s National Team (Bafana Bafana) last month ahead of the friendly match against Nigeria.
Nkosi and Dlamini make their return into the team. They travelled to Palestine last month and featured in South Africa’s 2 – 1 win over the Palestine National Team in a friendly match.
Da Gama’s troops will be looking to qualify for the 2015 All Africa Games which will be held in Congo Brazzaville in September.
“My dream was to play for a PSL side when I was chosen to join the Castle Lager Academy camp in January this year, I never thought that the opportunity the camp will give me will be this big. It’s a great feeling to get a call-up to the U/23 National Team and I look at this as a start of good things to come,” said the ecstatic Sifiso Nkosi.
“Credit must go to our scouts and coaches led by Neil Tovey who prepared these players in the last 3 years. It gives us great pleasure to see that the programme is starting reaping the rewards,” said Errol Madlala, SAB Sponsorship Manager.
“We wish Coach Owen Da Gama and the team all the best for the match on Saturday,” Madlala added.