Amajimbos face Colombia in prep for international competitions
Amajimbos, South Africa’s national u17 men’s team, is set to face Colombia in two matches this week in preparation for the u17 COSAFA Championship and the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Under the guidance of coach Vela Khumalo, the talented squad assembled on 10 April for a camp, and matches against their South American opponent are scheduled for 17 and 20 April.
The South African squad features the best players from the country’s most renowned football academies, and its quality is testament to the substantial progress that has been made in the development of the game at junior levels.
Among those included in the squad are Emile Witbooi, who recently moved from the School of Excellence to Cape Town City, Steven Mendes, a sharpshooter from the Kaizer Chiefs Academy, Diego Da Silva, who plays for the University of Pretoria, and Madondo Ayanda, from the KZN Academy.
The majority of the players have been fortunate enough to participate in leading development competitions, such as the Multichoice Diski Challenge, with SuperSport United, Cape Town Spurs, Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City being among the clubs known for giving their young stars a run in the reserve league of the DStv Premiership.
Many of them are also to be seen week in and week out in the Gauteng Development League, while some have been recognised in big competitions, such as the Bayhill Premier Cup.
Despite not having much experience in international competitions, the South African squad is loaded with skilful players. Now, they’re being challenged to demonstrate the benefits of the country’s development programmes.
Notably, the team’s formation owes credit to initiatives like the u15 FIFA-SAFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) International.
Kaizer Chiefs won the inaugural TDS Tournament in 2023, triumphing 2-1 over KZN in the final. At the conclusion of the event, 23 players were selected to be part of the first-ever u15 national squad.
Meanwhile, the Bayhill Premier Cup was also used as a showcase from which players were drafted into the national u17 set-up.
Victory in the competition went to Cape Town Spurs, who scored an impressive win over FN Rangers St Agnes in front of 15 000 fans at the Athlone Stadium to lift the title.
The u15 national team had its first taste of international competition last year, when it contested the Three-Nations TDS Tournament in Rabat, Morocco in early December.
During the tournament, they faced Cote d’Ivoire and the hosts, Morocco. In their first match, South Africa suffered a 2-4 loss to Cote d’Ivoire, but they took the lessons learned in that defeat and used them to help secure a 3-2 win over Morocco.
Also, they successfully met the technical team objectives set out by coach Vela Khumalo, who described the two internationals as a good test of character for his players.
Khumalo told SAFA.net that international competition is the goal for South Africa’s junior national teams: “The plan is to increase players’ average international caps to between five and nine caps by December 2024, accelerate game time, and set the technical-tactical foundation in line with the SAFA Vision 2023.”
SA u17 Squad
Adriano Adams (Cape Town Spurs Academy, Daniel Bohloko Neo (Kaizer Chiefs Academy), Lunje Noqobo (SuperSport United Academy), Landiso Radebe (SuperSport United Academy), Tswelelo Maake (SuperSport United Academy), Kamohelo Mareletse (Kaizer Chiefs Academy), Steven Mendes (Kaizer Chiefs Academy), Anovuyo Mgoqi (Cape Town City Academy), Bokamoso Mokokosi (Kaizer Chiefs Academy), Keabetswe Morake (Kaizer Chiefs Academy), Sabire Losper (Cape Town City Academy), Selywn Stevens (Mamelodi Sundowns Academy), Emile Witbooi (Cape Town City Academy), Mfundo Msimango (Sibanye Young Bucks), Ayanda Madondo (KZN Academy), Thandani Mhlongo (AmaZulu Academy), Athenkosi Pama Sive (Cape Town City Academy), Diego Da Silva (University of Pretoria), Sivuziwe Lonzi (Ubuntu Football Academy), Hayden Booysen (Ubuntu Football Academy), Simphiwe Mlondo (Mamelodi Sundowns Academy)
