Amajita aim to inspire Bafana Bafana with World Cup campaign

Paths are not always forged by forefathers; they are also paved by descendants. As a result, after the U20 national team led from the front, expectations are now high for Bafana Bafana to follow suit.

Amajita will begin their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign in Chile on Monday. They’ve made significant strides toward becoming regular competitors on the global stage, having qualified for the 2019 tournament in Poland.

Although they finished bottom of Group F — which included eventual finalists South Korea and early favourites Portugal — the experience gained by some of coach Thabo Senong’s players proved invaluable, and remains relevant today.

The trio of Thabiso Monyane, Thabo Moloisane, and Oswin Appollis haven’t only become first-team regulars at their respective clubs, but they’ve also earned their stripes with Bafana Bafana.

Fast-forward six years, and these players are now on the verge of helping Bafana qualify for the senior team’s global showpiece — a feat that would be a milestone for South Africa, given that the last time Bafana secured World Cup qualification through the qualifiers was back in 2002.

So, as coach Raymond Mdaka and his troops kick off their campaign, the nation must do the right thing: rally behind the team. They’ve been trailblazers, and it’s partly because of them that Bafana are now beginning to follow in their footsteps.

The junior national team could use even more support, especially considering the challenges they’ve had to endure throughout their qualification journey.

Amajita had inadequate preparation for the Africa Youth Championship in Egypt, reportedly staying at Safa's technical centre — Fun Valley — without running water for days.

Yet, against the odds, they punched above their weight and won South Africa’s first-ever junior AFCON title — even without key players like Asekho Tiwani, who was injured in the first match.

However, those poor preparations were only the tip of the iceberg. Mdaka poured his heart and soul into the team, reportedly earning around R25,000 a month, according to former Safa technical director Walter Steenbok.

To make matters worse, Safa — under the leadership of president Danny Jordaan — remained silent on whether players and coaching staff would receive bonuses for their success. To date, no official communication has been made on the matter.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Safa chose to sweep the issue under the rug and carry on with business as usual. After all, this is the same federation that once sent the U17 team to a major tournament by bus — a fact revealed during a national commission hearing.

Mdaka also noted that the team couldn’t play any friendly matches in preparation for the World Cup — a failure that highlights the ongoing ineptitude within the federation, which continues to hinder teams despite their efforts to compete on the world stage.

The Chilean time zone is five hours behind South Africa, meaning Amajita's supporters may have to stay up late for their group stage games. The second group match against New Caledonia kicks off at 1am, while the opening and final games — against France and the USA, respectively — will be played at 10pm.

But be that as it may, nothing is impossible. Locals should continue to rally behind the boys as they strive to break barriers and put South African football firmly on the global map.

This tournament could also be a career-defining moment for several players — both locally and internationally. That’s why you can bet coach Hugo Broos will be watching the competition closely.

The silver-haired Belgian is still on the hunt for players who can help the national team improve on their third-place finish at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast, as they prepare for the continental showpiece in Morocco later this year.