Banyana Banyana Head DR Desiree Ellis has announced a youthful preliminary squad for the upcoming international friendly matches against Lesotho, scheduled for February 22 and 25. The squad is composed primarily of young players, including several who have represented South Africa at the U-17 level, others currently playing in university structures, and a number of first-time senior national team call-ups. DR. Desiree Ellis © Gallo Images Speaking at a press briefing in Johannesburg, DR Ellis highlighted the strategic decision to give young players a chance, emphasizing the need to build depth and expose emerging talent to the international stage. “It’s an opportunity for these players that played at COSAFA to be given an opportunity and players that we’ve seen in the league, that we have watched for a couple of years and the U-17 players that have done really, really well,” she said. Some of the selected players have only featured at the COSAFA level and have not yet made t...