By BAKANG MOKOTO
17 November 2024 – The South African U17 Men’s National Team (Amajimbos) will begin preparations for the 2024 COSAFA Championships on 25 November 2024 at the SAFA Technical Centre in the south of Johannesburg. This year’s edition of the regional tournament will be played in Maputo, Mozambique, and will also be used to determine the two nations from the region that will qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, which will be staged by Cote d’Ivoire next year.
Amajimbos, who have been hard at work since July 2023, will be looking to secure a ticket to the continental tournament and also confirm a spot in the next FIFA U17 World Cup, which they haven’t qualified for since 2015 in Chile.
Under the Talent Development Scheme (TDS), Head Coach Vela Khumalo, believes that they have a great chance at qualifying for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations as they have had adequate preparation for the upcoming COSAFA Championships.
Speaking to http://www.safa.net, Khumalo said that he has never had such great preparation and believes he has built a squad to be reckoned with.
“The moment we have been preparing for over the past year is finally here, and we are beyond excited. Through the Technical Director of SAFA, our mission has been clear from day one.
“We need to go to the COSAFA Championships to ensure that we qualify for the 2025 AFCON, then the U17 FIFA World Cup like in previous years. We have had a lot of preparation to ensure that we go and achieve this mission,” he said.
Khumalo further said through the FIFA TDS programme, they have played Morocco, Ivory Coast, Colombia, Lesotho Tanzania and Algeria, and they believe that their players have seen what is expected from them when high performance is demanded.
He added that, they are looking forward to the COSAFA Championships and they hope that they can put South Africa back on the map at junior level.
“I have called up a squad of 26 players, which will be trimmed to 20 around 28 November 2024, before the team departs for the regional showpiece on 1 December 2024,” saidKhumalo.
South Africa have been drawn in Group C of the COSAFA Championships which takes place between 4- 13 December 2024. They will be up against Botswana, Comoros and Mauritius for a spot in the semi-finals.
26 player squad:
Goalkeepers
RADEBE Lwandiso SuperSport United FC
HOLDEN Luke Mamelodi Sundowns FC
MOSIA Lehlohonolo University of Pretoria FC
Defenders
PAMA Sive Cape Town City FC
MOKOKOSI Bokamoso Kaizer Chiefs FC
BOOYSEN Hayden Ubuntu Football Academy
MCHUNU Ziyanda Kaizer Chiefs FC
MZIMELA Khayalethu British Football Academy
MAJOLA Aphelele Mamelodi Sundowns FC
LESHILO Bokang Mamelodi Sundowns FC
MALATJI Royce Kaizer Chiefs FC
RUGUNANAN Tashiel Kaizer Chiefs FC
MADONDO Ayanda KZN Academy
MAGASHA Nkanyiso Mamelodi Sundowns FC
MIDFIELDERS
MARALETSI Kamohelo Mamelodi Sundowns FC
MLANGENI Teboho Kaizer Chiefs FC
STEVENS Selwyn Mamelodi Sundowns FC
DHLAMINI Lebogang Kaizer Chiefs FC
MENDES Steven Hammarby IF (Sweden)
ATTACKERS
WITBOOI Emile Cape Town City FC
LONZI Sivuziwe Ubuntu Football Academy
BOHLOKO Neo Kaizer Chiefs FC
MHLONGO Obama AmaZulu FC
SEKGOTO Omphemetse Mamelodi Sundowns FC
ADAMS Adriano Cape Town Spurs FC
MLONDO Simphiwe Mamelodi Sundowns FC
The Guardian 