The coach has omitted captain and goalkeeper, Sedilame Bosija alongside her Mamelodi Sundowns teammate, Refilwe Tholakele who were both part of the recent 2024 Women's Africa Cup Of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against Gabon.
The team faces a busy schedule over two months with the COSAFA Championship, 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers and the 2024 WAFCON final round of qualifiers. Bosija and Tholakele have since returned to their Pretoria base as Sundowns also have a congested schedule in their pursuit to defend the Hollywoodbets Super League title.
The South Africa champions will play eight games this month. Bosija sat out the previous weekend's 1-1 draw against Royal AM while Tholakele started on the bench.
The trio of goalkeeper, Bame Mokime, Oteng Bonang and Laone Moloi are some of the omissions from the Mares' COSAFA squad. Saulos also had to travel to South Africa without versatile defender, Desiree Kenyaditswe and speedy forward, Jessica Maponga who are in Cameroon for the first leg of the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup first round of qualifiers.
The Mares' leading goal scorer in the WAFCON qualifiers, Ontlametse Gaonyadiwe has made the trip. She is in the squad along with regulars, Lone Gaofetoge, Lesego Radiakanyo and Masego Montsho. Forward, Mokgabo Thanda is the only foreign-based player in the squad.
It will also be an interesting choice of who will be between the posts as Security Systems' Lesego Moeng and Tlamelo Pheresi of Gaborone United (GU) are in contention. The duo has put out splendid displays in the 2023 season and is gunning for the number one post as Orapa All Stars' Messiah Radinonyane is in line for her debut. The Mares will begin their tournament this afternoon against Namibia at the Lucas Moripe Stadium at 3:30pm.
The team will then face Lesotho on Sunday before concluding their Group C matches against Zimbabwe next Wednesday. The three group winners will qualify for the semi-finals alongside the best second-placed team.
The Mares have been to be final once in 2020 and will be looking to turn silver into gold in this year's edition. In the last two editions, the team was eliminated in the group stages. Full Mares squad Goalkeepers: Lesego Moeng (Systems), Tlamelo Pheresi (GU) Defenders: Goitsemang Tlamma, Nancy Baeletsi, Kesegofetse Mochawe (all GU), Masego Montsho, Pearl Sikwane (both Systems), Veronica Mogotsi (Double Action) Midfielders: Annah Sechane, Golebaone Selebatso, Keitumetse Dithebe, Lone Gaofetoge (all GU), Balotlhanyi Johannes, Lesego Radiakanyo, Obonetse Rathari (all Double Action), Mokgabo Thanda (Yasa Queens, Zambia), Theo George (Prisons) Forwards: Leungo Senwelo, Ontlametse Gaonyadiwe (all Double Action), Michelle Abueng (BDF XI), Messiah Radinonyane (Orapa All Stars)
