Raymond Mdaka: Amajita stepping up to the next level
In an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, head coach, Raymond Mdaka, discussed the recent victory of his South African u20 National Team (Amajita) at the Cosafa Championship in Mozambique.
The team secured a berth in the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, having reached the finals of the Cosafa Championship, where they will be joined by Zambia to represent the SADC region.
Mdaka attributed the team’s success to the mindset of the players; the governing body of South African football, SAFA, and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS). The latter initiative, in collaboration with SAFA, aims to enhance youth football development in South Africa by organising regular school-based tournaments and training camps to foster the growth of football in the country.
Mdaka further expressed his optimism regarding the future of South African football, highlighting the necessity for strategic planning and ongoing development within the sport. He also noted the challenges associated with nurturing young talent, underscoring the importance of shielding them from public scrutiny due to their youth, as well as the critical role of development programs.
Speaking specifically about winning a ninth Cosafa title for South Africa, Mdaka suggested that it was an indication of football in South Africa having taken a step up to the next level.
“I would like to thank the the players, as well as the technical and support staff,” he said, adding that the most important aspect is preparation.
“We had our first camp in March, where we had a bigger pool of players, and our second camp ahead of the match against Lesotho. All those camps were in preparation of the Cosafa Cup, and, together with the friendly game against Lesotho, hugely beneficial in terms of balancing the team and playing pattern.”
During the tournament Amajita exhibited a fantastically balanced approach, scoring a remarkable 16 goals while keeping the door shut as they did not concede a single goal.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the number of goals we scored; you could sense the hunger to score,” Mdaka said. “Looking at the game against Zambia and the chances that we created, we could have actually scored more goals.
“The important thing is, when we were in possession of the ball, we were in possession with a purpose, not just for the sake of keeping possession.
“Defence is just as important, though, and I’m immensely proud of how well we defended. As a coach, that brings the stress level down and you can relax a bit.”
However, everything was not smooth sailing and there were times when the young boys had their character tested, when they had to come through as a unit even when the goals were not necessarily coming. Commenting on those difficult situations when the opposition was frustrating his team, Mdaka said the most important thing was to remain focused, as well as to allow the young boys to make mistakes but rectify them, to remain calm at all times and not lose momentum.
This team comprised a youthful but very talented group of players, which is reflected in the results and ultimately the title that they brought home. According to Mdaka it is fantastic to have such a huge pool of talent to choose from, describing it as a positive headache.
“Not knowing who to pick is always better than not having enough to pick from.”
Having clinched the Cosafa Championship, Coach Mdaka is now shifting his focus towards the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
