DRC trio to beef up Zebras' COSAFA squad

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Thursday June 27, 2013 00:00

 

DR Congo-based maestro of football, Dirang Moloi and his club mates Phenyo Mongala and bustling striker Jerome Ramatlhakwana have been released for the tournament. Zebras' coach Stanley Tshosane will be especially pleased by the availability of Moloi who has been in sensational form in national team colours since returning to the fold. Tshosane confirmed with excitement that the trio would link up with the rest of the team ahead of the July 6 kick-off.

'We are pleased because their club has released them to join us for the tournament. I had initially said I will use local-based players, but this is a bonus because we shall take a stronger side to Zambia,' Tshosane told Mmegi Sport. However, he was unsure when the trio would join the rest of the team, saying there was a possibility they would travel straight to the Copperbelt.The team leaves next Thursday for Kitwe where some of the matches will be played.

Tshosane has been running the rule over a provisional squad of local-based stars who joined camp on Sunday evening.The only foreign-based player already in the country is Namibia-based left-back Pako Lekgari. 'The players are on an off-season break so we started off by working on their physique. We have been going to the gym in the mornings and training in the evenings,' he said.Tshosane reiterated he was taking the tournament seriously as he looks to build his side for the future. His next assignment after COSAFA will be the CHAN qualifiers.

Botswana are in Group B and will play their games at two venues in Kitwe on the Copperbelt. Group B games were moved from the capital of the Central province, Kabwe.Kenya, Lesotho and Swaziland are the other teams in the group. Botswana face Swaziland in their opening game of the tournament on July 7 before taking on Lesotho two days later.Their tie against East African guests Harambee Stars of Kenya has been set for July 11.The organisers have set aside P1 million in prize money. The regional championship makes a comeback on July 6-20 after a forced three-year hiatus. Twelve of the 14 COSAFA member countries will be present, along with guest nations Kenya (East Africa) and Equatorial Guinea (West Africa).