NEDBANK, organisers of the Ke Yona Team Search, has confirmed the names of the 18 players selected to face SuperSport United in a friendly next month.
The biggest upsets were that Gomotsegang Mabeo, Samuel Mohlaba, Sabelo Biyela, Zimela Zuma and Sibusiso Mthembu didn’t make it into the final 18.
Coaches Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, Owen Da Gama, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena have been busy since early this year identifying talent to nurture for the future.
The nationwide search for the team started with trials across all provinces, followed by ‘BootCamp’, where a certain number of players were selected.
The most promising players were trimmed down to a group of 40 and later to 32, which became 23 – and now only the last 18 remain standing.
They will face one last cut, down to 16 players, who will all win contracts with PSL clubs where they will be groomed for a certain number of months or even signed permanently.
Nedbank’s sponsorship manager, Tutu Skhosana, warned the players not to rest on their laurels, as that would mean they might miss out on that lucrative, final selection.
The 18 players called to the podium at the Nedbank headquarters last night include Lindani Nkabinde, Akhona Manqola, Cameron Chweu and Jeremiah Nkwana, as reported in SunSport yesterday. Players hail from Joburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Tshwane.
