Publications
Partners
South Africa’s national Under-20 midfielder, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has vowed that the team will push all the way to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.
“We have to go there [Under-20 Afcon finals] and fight again to be in the top four so that we qualify for the World Cup,” the player from Pietermaritzburg said.
Amajita qualified for the last edition of the World Cup hosted in South Korea two years ago.
The Kaizer Chiefs’ player who was has been promoted to the first team was not part of the national team that represented the country then but is eager to do so this year.
Thabo Senong’s charges – the SA Under-20 team known as Amajita – first have to play well at the Afcon taking place next month.
They will have to finish within the top four to qualify for the World Cup being held from May 23 to June 15 in Poland.
In their continental cup they are in Group A with Nigeria, Burundi and hosts Niger.
Different South African national teams have been grouped with Nigeria on a number of occasions in the past, including last year. It is a difficult task to beat Nigeria.
But the 19-year-old dribbling wizard said coach Senong would have a plan on how beat Nigeria, which have excelled in almost all junior team tournaments and women football.
“The coach has the plan. All that is left is for us to go out there and execute it. I hope we are going to make it,” he said.
Ngcobo said his ultimate dream is to go overseas preferably in England.
The Afcon Under-20 tournament has, in the past, served as a platform for young players to be spotted and snatched up by overseas clubs. Ngcobo aims to work hard, hoping to impress some of the scouts that are always in abundance at such events.
South Africa will be the only Council of SA Football Associations (Cosafa) representative at the tournament which runs from February 2 to 17.
The team will have two camps, first in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, and a second in a west African country that is still to be determined.
They will play NFD side TS Sporting on Saturday and Mozambican side Costa do Sol on Sunday.
Senong said Amajita have not lost any match since their 2017 World Cup clash against Italy.
“If you look at the past 18 months, the team has had an excellent run. We have not lost a single game in the Afcon qualifiers and our Cosafa matches,” Senong said.
“I think we have been recruiting good players trying to tick all the right boxes in terms of preparing them tactically, mentally and physically.
“Our last loss was against Italy [2-0] at the World Cup.”
He said this was proof that they had managed to rectify their weaknesses while improving on their strengths.
