Tokyo is calling for South Africa’s U23 national soccer team.
On Friday at 4.30pm, they have to answer “yebo” when they face Ghana in the Afcon third-place playoff.
A ticket to the Olympics is up for grabs and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Many players have used the tournament as a springboard or a shop window.
Our famous 2000 team shone in Sydney but ultimately went out at the group stage.
That side featured the likes of Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune and Matthew Booth.
Then at the last tournament, another generation went to Rio and failed to win a group match.
But who can forget how Cape laaitie Abbubaker Mobara kept a leash on Neymar and made the Brazilian think twice about trying to trick him.
Should AmaGlug-Glug go on and secure Afcon bronze, the Olympics will be yet another tournament they gain experience in.
MUST START: Kermit Erasmus. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
That all bodes well for Bafana. And speaking of Bafana, coach Mofeli Ntseki is not hanging slange as he looks to improve.
After watching for years from the bench as Bafana missed chance after chance, he is ready to look overseas for strikers.
It’s a message to South African marksmen to take their job seriously.
In his first two competitive games in charge, Ntseki only saw one goal.
But like I’ve said before in these pages Kermit Erasmus is a must for Bafana.
His link play is superb and his eye for goal is second to none on these shores.
It’s about time he starts.