By Michael Madyira
South Africa national Under-20 football coach Raymond Mdaka is trying to put on a brave face after some clubs refused to release players for the upcoming Cosafa Championships.
Amajita are set to report to camp on Sunday to start preparations for the regional tournament, which Mozambique will host from 25 September to 5 October.
The tournament will serve as qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations and the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, which will be staged in the same year.
Mdaka has named his final 20 players for the competition but is facing resistance from some clubs reluctant to release their players.
“Although some clubs failed to release the players we requested for this important tournament, I believe we have selected a strong quality squad and will be able to achieve our objectives.” Mdaka told Safa media.
“Our objective for the Cosafa Championships was clear from the day I came into office. We must go to the 2025 U20 Fifa World Cup, and to do so, we need to be in the top two of the championships.
“We are grateful to all the clubs who have released their players, and we will ensure that we accomplish the mission at hand.”
The Cosafa Championships falls outside the Fifa calendar and clubs are not obliged to release their players.
Some of the players in Mdaka’s squad include Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mfundo Vilakazi as well as the Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Siyabonga Mabena, Asekho Tiwani and Letlhaku Kutlwano.
Club Brugge’s Shandre Campbell is a big boost but SuperSport defender Neo Rapoo and forward Luke Baartman of Cape Town Spurs will not be joining the Under-20 camp.
South Africa are in Group C together with Malawi, Comoros and Lesotho.
Pictured above: South Africa Under-20 attacker Mfundo Vilakazi celebrates after scoring in an international friendly match against Lesotho.
Source: Safa
