​

Thabo Senong, head coach of the Burger King-sponsored South African u20 National Team (Amajita), says the international friendly match against Zambia will give his charges an insight that country in terms of
conditions.
 
Amajita are in Lusaka to take on the host nation on Sunday, 12 February 2017 at Nkoloma Stadium, a match used to prepare for the 2017 CAF U20 African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Zambia.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 15h00.
 
Senong anticipates a tough clash, but is confident it will be a fruitful exercise.
 
“We are still in our second phase of preparations for the AFCON, which starts soon, and we still have some areas to work on. We are very grateful for the opportunity to play this friendly as it will assist us a lot in building our tactics, along
with ensuring that the players have an idea of some of the conditions they will exposed to,” said Senong.
 
Another key factor the South Africans are focusing on is the fitness – which is always crucial in tournament situations.
 
“We still have about two weeks before the tournament kicks off, and we are working on ensuring that the players are all on the same level of fitness and understanding the game plans we will have for Cameroon, Senegal and Sudan,” added Senong.
 
“The players will have to be very clinical in their set plays, come Sunday afternoon. They will also have to respect the critical times of the game and be able to match the Zambians physically and mentally.”
 
The third phase of preparations will start when Amajita return from Zambia after the clash with Junior Chipolopolo.
 
The South Africans will travel to Polokwane, Limpopo to face Mali in their second international friendly match.

The CAF U20 AFCON takes place in Zambia from 26 February – 12 March 2017taungdailynews@gmail.com

​

BY BAKANG MOKOTO
African National Congress in Bokone Bophirima said it was shocked by racial attacks that continue to take place in the province. 

ANC provincial secretary,  Dakota Legoete said the latest incidents took place in Potchefstroom and Ottosdal.

“In Potchefstroom, a white man was caught on video assaulting and hurling insults at two traffic officials who stopped the car he was travelling in for inspection. In the Ottosdal incident, white men attacked and pointed a gun at black six boys and a woman.

“The ANC strongly condemns these two racial attacks and reiterate that this will not be tolerated in our province and our country. As a movement that played a leading role in liberating our people from the slavery of apartheid, we will continue to frown upon that behaviour and any other acts that seek to demean our people,” Legoete said.

He said it was sickening and unfortunate that 22 years since the dawn of democracy, there are still some white people who do not want to embrace the spirit of reconciliation, respect and tolerance for one another. 

Legoete further said it cannot be that it’s only black people who stretch the hand of reconciliation and some think it’s okay to spit on the efforts the majority of South Africans made to reach a peaceful settlement to reunite this beautiful country.

“We urge our law enforcement agencies to speedily arrest the Potchefstroom culprits and prosecute them for their barbaric acts of racism and abuse of officers of the law who were simply performing their duties as expected. 

“We are happy that police have already made arrests in the Ottosdal case and we urge our members and communities to support the victims throughout the court process and ensure justice is served,” he said.

Legoete said people should refrain from acts of racism. He also urge all citizens, regardless of their race group to participate in the provincial government’s Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal programme.

taungdailynews@gmail.com