31 August 2024 – The South African U17 Men’s National Team (Amajimbos) departed for Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, on Saturday morning ahead of their fourth international match as they continue preparations for the 2024 COSAFA Championships, to be played in December.
Amajimbos will be participating in a FIFA 6 Nations Talent Development Scheme (TDS) tournament in the West African country. The scheme is the brainchild of FIFA with the aim of exposing junior players to international football at a young age in order to fast-track their development.
South Africa will play three international friendly matches during their week-long stay in Cote D’Ivoire. Their opening match of the tournament will be played on 3 September 2024 against Algeria. They will then face East Africans Tanzania on 5 September 2024 before their last match against Morocco on 7 September 2024.
Head Coach Vela Khumalo said they aim to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U17 Men’s World Cup and are building up to this by preparing the team at every opportunity provided to them.
Amajimbos last played two weeks ago in South Africa against Lesotho in two practices matches. They beat their counterparts 4-0 and 3-1 consecutively over two matches.
Prior to that, the U17 National Team had played two international friendlies in Colombia earlier in the year and participated in a Three Nations TDS Tournament in Morocco in December 2023.
20 Men squad:
Goalkeepers
RADEBE Lwandiso – SuperSport United
HOLDEN Luke – Mamelodi Sundowns
MOSIA Lehlohonolo – AmaTuks
Defenders
PAMA Sive – Cape Town City
MOKOKOSI Bokamoso – Kaizer Chiefs
BOOYSEN Hayden – Ubuntu Football Academy
MCHUNU Ziyanda – Kaizer Chiefs
MZIMELA Khayalethu – British Football Academy
MIDFIELDERS
MGOQI Anovuyo – Cape Town City
MARALETSE Kamohelo – Mamelodi Sundowns
MLANGENI Teboho – Augusto Palacios Academy
STEVENS Selwyn – Mamelodi Sundowns
DHLAMINI Lebogang – Kaizer Chiefs
ATTACKERS
WITBOOI Emile – Cape Town City
LONZI Sivuziwe – Ubuntu Football Academy
BOHLOKO Neo – Kaizer Chiefs
MHLONGO Obama – AmaZulu FC
SEKGOTO Omphemetse – Mamelodi Sundowns
MAZIBUKO Ntando – TS Galaxy FC
ADAMS Adriano – Cape Town Spurs
