Newly appointed head coach of the South African Futsal National Team, João Freitas Pinto, has trimmed his provisional squad of 48 down to 26 players as preparations continue for the upcoming 2016 CAF Futsal Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Newly appointed head coach of the South African Futsal National Team, João Freitas Pinto, has trimmed his provisional squad of 48 down to 26 players as preparations continue for the upcoming 2016 CAF Futsal Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament will be hosted in South Africa for the first time and runs from 15 – 24 April.
Last weekend (4 – 6 March 2016) Pinto held a training camp where he had a chance to take a closer look at the players he had selected during the SAFA Interprovincial tournament a few weeks ago.
Popularly know as JP, Pinto says South Africa has the potential to qualify for their first ever FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be held in Colombia from 14 September – 2 October 2016.
“The squad which we have trimmed down comprises of players with a lot of experience. Many of the players have been playing Futsal and 5-a-side football for almost 10 years, and the talent they have is just unbelievable,” said JP.
Among the players making the grade in the 26-man squad is Mark Haskins, former Jomo Cosmos player – and the South African Futsal National team will look to players such as him to motivate the squad to success.
JP is scheduled to host another training camp shortly to work on the tactical and technical aspects of his game.
The selected 26-man SA Futsal squad:
| No. | Name & Surname | Province |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nwashokwe Gift Mashaba | Free State |
| 2. | Justice Moshela | Limpopo |
| 3. | Ernest Mahlaba | Mpumalanga |
| 4. | Mpho Mkhwanazi | Gauteng |
| 5. | Kyle Koert | Gauteng |
| 6. | Jabulani Mnisi | Gauteng |
| 7. | Ponalo Motshabi | Gauteng |
| 8. | Sibusiso Makhoba | Gauteng |
| 9. | Mark Haskins | Gauteng |
| 10. | Simanga Tshabalala | Gauteng |
| 11. | Rafique Hassim | Gauteng |
| 12. | Teboho Mofolo | Gauteng |
| 13. | Sibusiso Tshabalala | Gauteng |
| 14. | Trevino Pillay | KwaZulu Natal |
| 15. | Renaldo Donnelly | KwaZulu Natal |
| 16. | Donovan Gordan | KwaZulu Natal |
| 17. | Wiseman Cele | KwaZulu Natal |
| 18. | Demaine Ho Ghong | KwaZulu Natal |
| 19. | Hashim Khan | KwaZulu Natal |
| 20. | Radlin Sanssoucie | KwaZulu Natal |
| 21. | Taheer Syed | KwaZulu Natal |
| 22. | Simphiwe Mgedezi | KwaZulu Natal |
| 23. | Sedwyn George | KwaZulu Natal |
| 24. | Byron Cottle | Western Cape |
| 25. | Pedro Marques | Western Cape |
| 26. | Yusuf White | Western Cape |