The national Under-20 team launches the penultimate assault to qualify for the African Youth Championship in Rwanda when they take on South Africa's Amajita in the first leg at the National Stadium tomorrow. The Young Zebras need to come tops in the two-legged affair to make it to Rwanda.

A comprehensive, win tomorrow will make the Zebras task easier during the return leg in Kimberley in two weeks'time. The last time Botswana made an appearance at the continental youth showpiece was in 1994 in Mali where the Young Zebras were eliminated in the group stages. The current Botswana players look promising but they will have to get past Amajita, which has always proven to be a headache to them.

Ahead of the clash, both coaches are beaming with confidence that they will win tomorrow's game. With the Young Zebras playing at home, a lot will be expected from them. "The boys have responded well to my training and they seem fired up for the clash. I have no doubt that they can win the game though anything can happen in the game of football," said Young Zebras' coach Boyo Radipotsane yesterday. Though the hosts will be without their inspirational skipper Ntesang 'Mirror' Simanyana, who is serving a one-match suspension, Radipotsane believes that they have enough cover.

Township Rollers' forward Aubrey Kebonnetse who limped off in the early minutes of the game against Gabon in Gaborone has recovered and is expected to lead the search for goals. Without Kebonnetse, the Young Zebras have always struggled to find the back of the net. One player who will be on the spotlight is Flamengo Santos' attacking midfielder Mogakolodi 'Tsotso' Ngele, who won the golden boot during the just-ended Coca-Cola Cup. If Ngele can click in the game, the Young Zebras might win the game. "We urge Batswana to come and rally behind us because our team has shown a lot of potential," said Radipotsane.

Though South Africa will be without four of their key players, coach Serame Letsoaka believes that they can snatch an important victory here before finishing the job in Kimberley. Mandla Masango (Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Serero and Sameehg Doutie (both Ajax Cape Town), Kamohelo Mokotjo (SuperSport United) have not been released by their clubs for the Gaborone match. Letsoaka asserted that though he would have wanted to have all the players, there is nothing he can do if the clubs refuse to release them. Lanky defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele of Moroka Swallows who featured in the 3-0 win over Cape Town Santos on Wednesday night was expected to arrive in Gaborone yesterday.

"We have to get a result here. We went to Seychelles four weeks ago and things were okay. The other games which the boys featured in during the COSAFA Senior Challenge also helped to give the boys the much-needed experience because they were competing against older opponents," he said. Letsoaka stated that he respects the Young Zebras a lot as they have potential. "They have a few individual players who are talented but they will be taken care of." South Africa have some good players in Thulani Ngcepe (Moroka Swallows), Michael Morton (Orlando Pirates), Collen Zulu (SuperSport United) and Lawrence Molekwane (Kaizer Chiefs). Kick off is at 4pm and tickets are selling at P25 grand stand and P20 elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the national Under-17 take on Angola at the National Stadium tonight at 7pm. The side is trailing 2-0 after the first leg and it will be interesting to see if the Botswana side can reverse the score. Admission is free.