Botswana coach George Mogopodi has named his squad for the 2016 COSAFA Under-20 Championships, sponsored by PPC, that will be staged in South Africa’s North West province from December 7-16.

Mogopodi has retained a number of the plyers who featured in the African Youth Championship qualifiers earlier this year, with 17-year-old Kitso Mangolo the youngest member of the selection.

Botswana were unlucky in those qualifiers, winning 1-0 at Zimbabwe in the first leg before going down 2-0 home.

One of the heroes of that tie was goalkeeper Tumisang Selolwane, who has been selected again for the COSAFA tournament in South Africa.

Having finished third in the last COSAFA Under-20 Championships on home soil in 2011, Botswana were unable to build on that success in Lesotho two years as they exited in the first round.

This team is being closely watched by Botswana senior team coach Peter Butler, who is looking for fresh players to compliment his Zebras squad that finished as runners-up in the COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia in June.

Aside from their bronze in 2011, the Young Zebras also claimed third in 2009 when after losing to South Africa in the semifinals, they beat Madagascar on penalties.

The team have been drawn in Group A at this year’s tournament along with hosts South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

 

Botswana squad

Goalkeepers: Thero Asele, Isaac Moyo, Tumisang Selolwane

Defenders: Alford Velaphi, Thato Kebue, Marcus Maokaneng, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Theo Motsepe, Ndzibi Bale, Goitseone Legopelo, Michael Tinye

Midfielders: Ocean Lottering, Leago Maswena, Gape Edwin Mohutsiwa, Tshepho Malgas, Kesaobaka Ramotshwaedi, Mothusi Cooper, Tiroyaone Maome, Kitso Mangolo, Thato Mogorosi, Thabang Mooketsi

Strikers: Thero Mogobe, Aobakwe Tshobo, Ronaldo Fortune, Mpho Kgomo