Mdaka’s roster is getting ready for a significant back-to-back series of Olympic Games qualifiers against Madagascar, with the first match scheduled for Saturday and the second on Tuesday, both taking place at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

The 23-man squad includes Club Brugge winger Shandre Campbell, who received a senior Bafana Bafana call-up last month, alongside other notable talents such as Mfundo Vilakazi, Camren Dansin, Lazola Maku, Simphiwe Selepe, Neo Rapoo, Kutlwano Letlhaku, Mpho Padime, Thato Sibiya, Asekho Tiwani, Tylon Smith, Fletcher Smythe-Lowe, and Dhakier Lee.

Many squad members previously played under Mdaka when South Africa’s Under-20 team, Amajita, won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.

Mdaka expressed that having players with established international experience gives him assurance when selecting key players who may currently lack consistent club play.

“The caliber of talent we possess always presents challenges; it’s tough to finalize our 23 players and beyond,” Mdaka stated.

“However, we have a strong player pool. The preliminary squad that we announce allows us to play around with our options. When we do this, we aim to identify players getting regular game time.

“We prioritize players who are actively participating, as well as those who can step in if others are injured. This depth affords us flexibility. At the same time, we continuously evaluate their overall performance to determine their contributions to their clubs.

“Some may not be getting regular minutes, but that can be rationalized. Ultimately, it’s preferable to rely on familiar competencies rather than uncertain prospects.”