Da Gama's advice to Olympics-headed U23 team

Former SA Under-23 coach Owen da Gama hopes that the current coach, David Notoane, will succeed where he failed at the Olympics.

Da Gama helped the team qualify for the Olympics  in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016 after 16 years. But SA failed to get out of a group that had host nation Brazil, Denmark and Iraq. They ended their campaign bottom of the group with two points from three games.

Notoane will lead the young Bafana to their third Olympic Games appearance in Tokyo, in Group A against the host nation, Japan, Mexico and France.

Notaone will lead his boys in the opening game against Japan on July 22.

Da Gama revealed that he regularly talks with Notoane and offered him advice on what he should do to get the team to the knockout stages.

Da Gama said injuries and the restrictions on changing his team in Brazil affected their performance at the tournament.

“Our players were not regulars in the PSL, and we were not allowed to change the team, while the likes of Denmark, Sweden and Brazil did. We also did not have enough time to prepare as we started three months before the tournament. There was too much expectation on the team that qualified for the Games for the first time in 16 years," said Da Gama.

He said winning the opening game would increase their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Da Gama said Notoane must win the game against Japan to boost the confidence of the team.

“It is tough as you only have one year to prepare, and to put the team together in the Under-23 age group. They are more prepared than we were, and they have more options as most players are playing regularly in the PSL and at European clubs.

"The playing fields are level this time, unlike 2016. Lebogang Mothiba was in Lille in France, but he was not a regular, while Notoane's overseas-based players are playing at their clubs. My advice is that he must win the opening game and get a draw, and he will qualify for the quarterfinals," added the TS Galaxy coach.