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Persianleague
- Sep 14, 2002
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Sabcnew - Kenneth Conti Kubheka, the new South African Under-23 national soccer team coach, will guide the South African national B side to compete in the Four Nations LG Cup in Iran from September 17 to 19.

Barney Kujane, the team manager, said the other three countries who will take part in this annual tournament are the hosts and defending champions Iran, Morocco and Paraguay. "We have selected the strongest possible squad to represent South Africa, considering that our domestic league season has already started. It will not be easy in Iran but we will give it our best shot," he said.

Kubheka is still on cloud nine after winning a bronze medal with the Under-23s during the Cup Patron of Jose Eduardo Dos Santos in Luanda, Angola, a fortnight ago after losing to the hosts in the final. The South African Football Football (Safa) could not sent a full strength Bafana squad to Iran because of the Cosafa Castle Cup final where South Africa play Malawi away on the weekend of September 20. The second leg takes place in Durban the following weekend.

In addition, Safa were also unable to sent an Under-23 national side because the majority of the Premiership clubs were not keen to release their regular players for the tournament. "It was not easy task for the technical staff to choosing the team because we did not want to disrupt our league programme," said Kujane, adding that the team would leave for Iran tomorrow.

The Iran tournament has lead to the postponement of Sunday's league match between Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates because the two Soweto giants have three or more players in the team. The Premier Soccer League rules allows a club with three or more players in a South African national team to ask for a postponement of their fixtures.

The team
Goalkeepers: John Tlale (Spartak, First Division League side), Wayne Roberts (Wits University). Defenders: Peter Petersen (Moroka Swallows), Abednigo Notshodwe (Orlando Pirates), Nhlanhla Mathebula (Kaizer Chiefs), Warren Lewis (Swallows), Marco Mthembu (Chiefs), Hilton Jordaan (Jomo Cosmos).
Midfielders: Joseph Makhanya (Orlando Pirates), Lucky Maselesele (Chiefs), Gift Leremi (Pirates), Steve Lekoelea (Pirates), Phumlani Dindi (Dynamos), Molefi Ntsoelengoe (Swallows), Dikgang Mabalane (Jomo Cosmos) and Lucky Sibeko (Lamontville Golden Arrows).
Strikers: Phumlani Mkhize (Chiefs), Lesley Manyathela (Pirates), Gavin Manuel (Swallows) and Eric Sono (Cosmos). - Sapa