The Premier Soccer League (PSL) have confirmed they will go ahead with a planned break in the league programme in late November and early December to allow South Africa to pick a full-strength squad for the African Under-23 Championships‚ which will decide places at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
A stop in all PSL activity between November 23 and December 16 had been pencilled in if the under-23 team overcame Zimbabwe in their preliminary round tie and qualified for the eight-team championship‚ which is being played in Senegal.
South Africa duly achieved the feat just over a week ago and PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee on Monday confirmed the break is now on.
The tournament is being held in Senegal’s capital Dakar and the coastal town of Mbour from November 28-December 12.
The Confederation of African Football announced on Sunday that the draw for the tournament would take place at the organisation’s headquarters in Cairo on September 14.
South Africa will be drawn alongside three of Algeria‚ Egypt‚ Mali‚ Nigeria‚ Senegal‚ Tunisia and Zambia in their opening round group.
The top-three finishers at the African Under-23 Championships represent the continent at the Olympic Games next year. The fourth-placed finisher in Senegal plays-off against an Asian country for another possible place at Rio.
There will be no halt‚ however‚ for the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) in Rwanda‚ which is being held from January 16-February 7 next year‚ even if South Africa qualify.
The PSL was halted in early 2014 when the last Chan tournament was hosted in South Africa.
PSL confirms break for African U23 Champs
A stop in all PSL activity between November 23 and December 16 had been pencilled in if the under-23 team overcame Zimbabwe in their preliminary round tie and qualified for the eight-team championship‚ which is being played in Senegal.
South Africa duly achieved the feat just over a week ago and PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee on Monday confirmed the break is now on.
The tournament is being held in Senegal’s capital Dakar and the coastal town of Mbour from November 28-December 12.
The Confederation of African Football announced on Sunday that the draw for the tournament would take place at the organisation’s headquarters in Cairo on September 14.
South Africa will be drawn alongside three of Algeria‚ Egypt‚ Mali‚ Nigeria‚ Senegal‚ Tunisia and Zambia in their opening round group.
The top-three finishers at the African Under-23 Championships represent the continent at the Olympic Games next year. The fourth-placed finisher in Senegal plays-off against an Asian country for another possible place at Rio.
There will be no halt‚ however‚ for the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) in Rwanda‚ which is being held from January 16-February 7 next year‚ even if South Africa qualify.
The PSL was halted in early 2014 when the last Chan tournament was hosted in South Africa.
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