Rhulani Mokwena

Rhulani Mokwena, coach of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont on the 19 December 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/Sports Inc

Tokyo Olympics | SEVEN Sundowns players in SA’s preliminary squad

Mamelodi Sundowns could have more players than any other PSL team at the Olympics after seven of their players were included in SA’s preliminary squad.

Rhulani Mokwena

Rhulani Mokwena, coach of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont on the 19 December 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/Sports Inc

Mamelodi Sundowns could have more players than any other PSL team at the Tokyo Olympics later this year.

This after South African Olympic team coach David Notoane included no less than seven Sundowns players in his 40-man preliminary squad.

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Notoane announced the preliminary squad on Thursday afternoon, and as expected, the squad includes a number of overage players as per the Olympics rules.

His decision to include SEVEN Sundowns players shouldn’t come as a major shock to the majority of South African football fans, simply because the Tshwane giants have been unstoppable in recent months.

However, the majority of the Sundowns players under the age of 23 haven’t been regulars under the tutelage of Manqoba Mngqithi, Rhulani Mokwena, and Steve Komphela.

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Goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, Themba Zwane, Mosa Lebusa, Mothobi Mvala, and Thapelo Morena are the Sundowns players above the age of 23 in Notoane’s squad.

Grant Magerman and Keletso Makgalwa also cracked the nod to bring the number of Sundowns players in the SA Olympic squad to a whopping seven.

Nonetheless, with this just being Notoane’s preliminary squad, the seven players know that they will have to work hard to earn their places in the final squad.

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Sundowns arch-rivals SuperSport United have four representatives in the squad, with Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams, Luke Fleurs, and Sipho Mbule all making the preliminary squad.

THE PRELIMINARY SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Mondli Mpoto (Bloemfontein Celtic), Sifiso Mlungwana (Golden Arrows),

OVER 23 goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Ricardo Goss (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Reeve Frosler (Kaizer Chiefs), Luke Fleurs (SuperSport United), Repo Tercious Malepe (Minaj FC, Ukraine), Katlego Mohamme (University of Pretoria), Thabiso James Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Thendo Mukumela (Cape Town Spurs), Sifiso Ngobeni (Bloemfontein Celtic), Bongani Sam (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Athenkosi Dlala (University of Pretoria), Luke Le Roux (Varbergs BoIS, Sweden), Khanya Leshabela (Leicester City, England), Kobamelo Kodisang (Sporting Braga B, Portugal), Gift Links (Aarhus, Denmark), Kamohelo Mahlatsi (Swallows FC), Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Grant Margeman (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kgaugelo Chauke (Southampton, England), Sipho Mbule (Supersport United), Happy Mashiane (Kaizer Chiefs) Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United), Nkosiphilile Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs), Goodman Mosele (Baroka FC), Kgaogelo Sekota (Swallows FC), Sithole Sphephelo (Belenenses, Portugal), Ashley Du Preez (Stellenbosch FC)

Strikers: Lyle Foster (Vitoria Guimaraes II, Portugal), Zakhele Lepasa (Orlando Pirates), Fagrie Lakay (Cape Town City), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Luther Singh (Pacos de Ferreira, Portugal, loan), Siyabonga Ligendza (Cardiff City U18, England)

OVER 23 in-field players: Percy Tau (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns FC)