Three South African players – Lorezo Gordinho (Kaizer Chiefs), Avela Cezu (M Tigers) and Stanley Makgoka (Mamelodi Sundowns) – finally arrived in Ramallah to join the rest of the national Olympic team for Saturday’s international friendly game against Palestine scheduled for Hebron.
The trio was left behind for various reasons but head coach Owen da Gama was delighted when they joined the rest of the traveling party on Thursday morning following a stop-over in Ethiopia to beef the squad ahead of Saturday’s match which the Palestinians are using as preparation for an Olympic qualifier against Iraq.
The South Africans on the other hand, are also using the match as preparation for their All Africa Games qualifier against Sudan in Khartoum next weekend and on Wednesday, da Gama took the boys through a loosening up training session at the Al Bireh Municipal Stadium in the city of Ramallah where the team is staying.
It was their first training sessions since their arrival and quite a number of players caught the eye in a session where goalkeeper coach Lucky Shiburi also had the three goalkeepers working their gloves off.
“We invited players from the National First Division,” said Da Gama. “We also invited players from Port Elizabeth, East London, Free State, Western Cape, but unfortunately their clubs could not release them,” added Da Gama.
“However, I understand their (clubs) positions and although there are countless players that I would have loved to be with us here, their clubs refused to release them and so we cannot whine and moan but have to get the job done.
“I am quite happy and satisfied about the group of players that have honoured their call-ups and although it had been pretty difficult, we are here in Palestine and let’s go out there and carry our national fly high.”
Palestine though are no slouches and their Olympic team has been active during the last couple of months, beating Oman (2-0) Tajikistan (2-1) but losing to Singapore 2-1 and Japan 4-0 which indicates that this will not be a Sunday walk in the park for the South Africans.
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