Lethal striker Lesley Manyathela should be released by his club Orlando Pirates to join the rest of the South African national under-23 team in Kenya.
The Sasol sponsored team AmaGlug-Glug landed in Kenya to a lukewarm reception on Tuesday afternoon for their crucial second leg Olympics Athens 2004 qualifier against the Kenyans on Saturday.
Manyathela, the Premier Soccer League 2002/03 award winning goal scorer, was not selected for the Under-23 team because he was included in the Bafana Bafana team that beat Cote d’ Ivoire 2-1 in the African Cup of Nations qualifier in Polokwane last weekend.
The national junior team has suffered a devastating blow though, with
Mabhuti Khanyeza, who scored the opening goal for South Africa against Kenya in their 2-1 narrow win at Orlando Stadium two weeks ago, knocked out cold by ‘flu.
He was running a temperature and according to the team doctor, Maxwell Nematshwarani, it was ”very scary”.
Khanyeza was also reported to be vomiting and as result was unable to join his team mates in their first training session on Wednesday.
It has left coach Kenneth Kubheka in a bit of a hole and he was hoping Manyathela would make it. He is praying the player arrives by Thursday so Kubheka knows exactly who is available for selection to the starting line up. The worried coach, and team manager Louis Tshakoane, have appealed to Pirates brand manager Zodwa Khoza to send Manyathela over. He could be their trumpcard.
”Pirates have always been cooperative. I know they will help us send Mayathela through,” said Tshakoane.
Manyathela’s club has a big game against TP Mazembe in the first leg of the Vodacom Challenge Cup competition on Sunday but Tshakoane has guaranteed the Bucanneers that Manyathela and Joseph Makhanya will be flown to SA immediately after the game on Saturday.
In fact, return tickets have already been booked for the two players whose club will host the Democratic Republic of Congo side in Mmabatho on Sunday.
Meanwhile locals have warned the South Africans to not expect to leave the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasara unscathed.
The stadium is described as a happy hunting ground for the Kenyans.
”They are very dangerous when playing there. They will come with sweat, blood and tears to make sure that they book a place in Athens,” warned a soccer enthusiast after South Africa’s high spirited training session on Wednesday. – Sapa