Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka: ‘We need to put more effort into the grassroots’

947’s Robert Marawa speaks with Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka and player Gomolemo Kekana.

Listen below:

The Amajita received a heroes' welcome at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday (20 May).

The team touched down with the Africa Cup of Nations Under-20 trophy. 

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• South Africa’s Amajitas crowned U20 AFCON champions
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The 18-year-old Kekana says it was nothing he had experienced before. 

“I have never had such a welcoming. I am truly thankful to all South Africans who came to OR Tambo and those who couldn’t come, but were supporting us from their respective homes… This trophy right here is for them.” 

– Gomolemo Kekana, Amajita

Mdaka says he is proud of what his boys have been able to achieve. 

It's been 28 years since the Amajita reached an AFCON final, which speaks to the challenges in youth development. 

“Our [youth] football is going to another level, we just need to get the support, the right infrastructure... We are not yet there yet, we [Amajita] might have done this, the U17 might have done this, but I believe we need to put more effort into the grassroots.”

– Raymond Mdaka, coach – Amajita

The focus now shifts to the FIFA Under-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile in September.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.