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Cape Town - Amaglug-glug coach Owen Da Gama has named his 22-man squad to face Brazil in an international friendly at Rei Pele Stadium later this month.
The national under-23 boss has named a strong squad, including three overseas-based players, for the fixture scheduled to take place on March 27 - in preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics in August.
Da Gama will be delighted to have secured the services of the three overseas-based players, having qualified for the tournament without them when they finished third, beating hosts Senegal in the African Youth Nations Cup.
The unclusion of Left-back Kgosi Ntlhle of Peterborough United, midfielder Lebogang Phiri of Brondby and striker Lebogang Mothiba of FC Lille makes up a strong spine for the former Platinum Stars boss to blend with the rest of the local-based players.
There was also a call-up for National First division top scorer Thabiso Kutumela, who has struck 16 goals for league leaders Baroka FC.
The 54-year-old admitted he's delighted to have secured a fixture of this magnitude, and believes it will serve as an invaluable experience for the youngsters that will make the core of the Olympics squad later this year.
"You can never ask for a better opposition than this," Da Gama said.
"First of all, we will be able to measure ourselves with some of the best players at our level, and secondly we will get a glimpse of what to expect when we return to Brazil for the Games.
"I am very happy that we were able to secure this all-important fixture.
"I believe, with my technical team, we have selected a very strong squad that will show what we are capable of. No one will walk into the team; everyone has to work for his position."
South Aafrica Under-23 squad to face Brazil:
Goalkeepers: Jody February (Ajax Cape Town), Luthando Sixhaso (Kaizer Chiefs), Kyle Peters (Cape Town All Stars)
Defenders: Tshepo Rikhotso (Bloemfontein Celtic), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg United), Abbubaker Mobara (Ajax Cape Town), Thabo Makhele (Witbank Spurs), Lorenzo Gordinho (Kaizer Chiefs), Tebogo Moerane (Bidvest Wits), Siyabonga Dube (Golden Arrows), Kgosietsile Ntlhle (Peterborough United)
Midfielders: Gift Motupa (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modipa (Mpumalanga Black Aces) Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns), Phumlani Ntshangase (Bidvest Wits), Deolin Mekoa (Maritzburg United), Andile Fikizolo (Golden Arrows), Lebogang Phiri (Brondby)
Strikers: Thabiso Kutumela (Baroka FC), Sello Jafta (Free State Stars), Thapelo Morena (Bloemfontein Celtic) Lebogang Mothiba (FC Lille)
