Tebogo Moerane may not be a household name in South African soccer just yet, but the fact that he will have to mark Barcelona superstar Neymar at the Olympics could propel him into the big time.
The 21-year-old from Limpopo hasn’t really broken through in the Wits first team either, but has been a regular for the South African Under-23 side that qualified for the Rio Games by finishing third in the junior African Cup of Nations.
And he is undaunted about the prospect of facing Neymar when SA take on hosts Brazil in their opening clash at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia next Thursday (9pm SA time).
The SA men’s and women’s football teams arrived in Brazil on Sunday, with the ladies being based in Rio and the guys in Brasilia, and coach Owen da Gama took his charges through their first practice on Monday afternoon Brazilian time (late Monday evening SA time).
Moerane will hope to be inspired by Shakes Mashaba’s team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics – the last time an SA men’s team qualified – who stunned Brazil 3-1 in Brisbane, with goals by Quinton Fortune, Siyabonga Nomvethe and Steve Lekoelea.
The big star for Brazil back then was Ronaldinho, and this time it’s Neymar. But while Phakamani Mahlambi missed out on Rio due to a serious knee injury, the likes of Keagan Dolly and Menzi Masuka will be out to put pressure on the Brazilian defence as well.
“As young players we only have memories of the class of 2000 playing in Sydney. We did not realise how big this platform is; this is massive. Playing at the Olympics is an honour and I want to ensure that I give it my all,” Moerane told the Safa website on Tuesday.
“We will be facing Brazil for the second time this year, and we play them in our opening match next Thursday. Although we lost 3-1 in the friendly match in March, we are a better prepared team now. We will not only be facing Neymar Junior, but a full-strength squad along with the 12th man, the supporters, but we are up for the challenge.”
South Africa’s remaining Group A games are against Denmark on Sunday, August 7 (2am SA time on Monday, August 8) in Brasilia and Iraq in Sao Paulo the following Wednesday (3am SA time on Thursday, August 11).
The top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals, so Da Gama’s outfit will be confident of finishing ahead of Denmark and Iraq at least. Denmark got through to Rio by reaching the European Under-21 Championships semi-finals last year, while Iraq ended third in the Asian Under-23 Championship in January.
“We believe we have what it takes to give not only Brazil a run for their money, but all the teams in our group. The support staff has done all they can throughout the past year to get us to this point, and we as players know that the future lies in our hands,” Moerane said.
SA Under-23 Olympic Squad
Goalkeepers: Jody February, Itumeleng Khune
Defenders: Kwanda Mngonyama, Rivaldo Coetzee, Abbubaker Mobara, Mothobi Mvala, Erick Mathoho, Tebogo Moerane, Tercious Malepe
Midfielders: Gift Motupa, Maphosa Modiba, Deolin Mekoa, Phumlani Ntshangase, Keagan Dolly
Strikers: Tyroane Sandows, Lebogang Mothiba, Menzi Masuka, Tashreeq Morris
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