Cape Town - With a week to go before the start of the football event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 16 participating countries are finishing off their preparations for what should be quite an intriguing competition.
The men’s football tournament is scheduled to be held from August 4-20.
According to the rules of the event, it’s restricted to Under-23 teams, although three over-age players are allowed. Countries have certainly taken advantage of this by including some high-profile names, with Brazil selecting Barcelona’s world-class Neymar and Nigeria opting for the experience and nous of Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel.
The reasoning behind the U23 rule, which was introduced in 1992, is that world governing body Fifa did not want the Olympics football tournament to rival any of the other big competitions, like the World Cup. In 1996, the rule to allow three over-age players was introduced in a bid to even things up with regard to on-field strength.
South Africa, competing in the Olympics football event for the first time since Sydney 2000, picked the Kaizer Chiefs duo of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and defender Erick Mathoho as their over-age players.
“It is an honour to be selected to this team,” said Khune shortly after the announcement of the SA U23 squad.
“I would like to thank the technical team for giving me the opportunity to be one of the participants at the world’s biggest spectacle. I am at a loss for words, but would just like to say that I will do my best whenever I am called upon to represent my country. I just hope my experience and that of Mathoho will take this team to greater heights.”
Mathoho added: “It really is an honour to be part of this team. I never would have imagined playing in the Olympics, but thanks to the technical team I have been considered. I would like to see this team achieve its objectives at the Olympic Games and I will do my best to see that it happens.”
But Khune’s selection, in particular, has polarised opinion in the local football fraternity. There are many - and some current and former national players have publicly voiced their disappointment - who believe that Khune’s presence is a slap in the face of incumbent U23 goalkeeper Jody February.
The 20-year-old Ajax Cape Town custodian almost single-handedly ensured the U23s secured a place at the Olympics with a series of brilliant saves and performances at the qualifying competition last year. Now, with the older, more experienced Chiefs man in the squad, February will, needless to say, have to play second fiddle. This was the ideal opportunity for the young goalkeeper to shine on a big stage - but, the national selectors, in their wisdom, thought differently.
South Africa have been drawn in a group alongside hosts Brazil, Denmark and Iraq. The Brazilians have made their ambitions clear with the inclusion of Neymar as an over-age player. They want to win the event.
There were some issues around the selection of Neymar, with his Spanish club Barcelona initially not too keen on his participation.
Columbia, too, have signalled their gold medal ambitions by picking star striker Teo Gutierrez, who was one of the stand-out players at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
The Olympics football tournament is always special to Nigeria - they won gold with a dream team at Atlanta 1996 - and, this time, they are hoping that the all-round game management and composure of Mikel can inspire them to success.
Supporters of Tottenham Hotspur would have revelled in the English club’s magnificent resurgence last season - and they will especially remember the vital contribution of South Korea’s excellent Son Heung-min.
The Asian side has included the industrious, intelligent attacker in their Olympic squad and he’s certain to have a major influence on the event.
Cape Argus