The core of the national Under-23 team are such unknowns outside the continent that the international media paged through the squad list at the mention of almost every name so they could see the player’s number and position.
But that will change after tonight, be it for good or bad. It’s up to them because the whole world will be watching when they begin their Olympics campaign against hosts Brazil in their capital city Brasilia (9pm SA time).
“Brazil are the tournament favourites and as hosts they are under pressure to win the tournament,” said one of the few recognisable figures, Itumeleng Khune. “We should play our normal game and not worry too much about them. They have a very good squad. A lot is expected from them as much as a lot is expected from us back home.
“We are not here to add numbers. We are here to earn people’s respect.”
This is Khune’s second time in Brazil. He was in goal for the senior national team when they took on the Brazilians in an international friendly they lost 1-0 in 2013.
It’s also the second time that a lot of the Under-23 players will be playing there, having faced Brazil’s Olympic team in March in Maceio. But the knowledge of Tyroane Sandowns, who has been living in Brazil for almost a decade, will come in handy as 12 of Brazil’s 18-man squad ply their trade locally.
A lot of the overseas-based players, like the Barcelona pair of Neymar and Rafinha along with Paris Saint Germain’s Marquinhos, are well-known. It is the same of Brazil's desire to finally win an Olympic gold medal - the only competition they haven’t won.
The expectations will be higher this year, not only because they are hosts,. There's also the “small” matter of their embarrassing 7-1 thumping by Germany in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup they hosted.
On the contrary, expectations on the South African team aren’t that high with reaching the quarter-finals a minimum target. That is the collective goal. Individually, most of these players want to earn contracts abroad, while those who are there are looking to grow their reputations.
Keagan Dolly will captain and drive the team, while Rivaldo Coetzee and Kwanda Mngonyama will be his deputies. Khune will lead from the back as the most senior player, with the task of solidifying a defence that has lacked a vocal leader.
“It would be a great achievement for us to reach the knockout stage because the last South African team to qualify for the Olympics didn’t make it out of their group,” said over-age keeper Khune. “If we can play our hearts out and get out of the group, it would be an achievement. So we'll definitely be looking for three points against Brazil.
“If we don’t get three points, we would settle for one and then aim to win the next two games. Seven points will be enough for us to reach the knockout stage.” - The Star