16 November 2024 – The South African U17 Men’s National Team (Amajimbos) will begin preparations for the 2024 COSAFA Championships on 25 November 2024 at the SAFA Technical Centre in the south of Johannesburg.
This year’s edition of the regional tournament will be played in Maputo, Mozambique, and will also be used determine the two nations from the region that will qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, which will be staged by Cote d’Ivoire next year.
Amajimbos, who have been hard at work since July 2023, will be looking to secure a ticket to the continental tournament and also confirm a spot in the next FIFA U17 World Cup, which they haven’t qualified for since 2015 in Chile.
Under the Talent Development Scheme (TDS), Head Coach Vela Khumalo believes that they have a great chance at qualifying for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations as they have had adequate preparation for the upcoming COSAFA Championships.
Speaking to safa.net, Khumalo said that he has never had such great preparation and believes he has built a squad to be reckoned with.
“The moment we have been preparing for over the past year is finally here, and we are beyond excited,” said Khumalo.
“Through the Technical Director of SAFA, our mission has been clear from day one. We need to go to the COSAFA Championships to ensure that we qualify for the 2025 AFCON, then the U17 FIFA World Cup like in previous years. We have had a lot of preparation to ensure that we go and achieve this mission.
“Through the FIFA TDS programme we have played Morocco, Ivory Coast, Colombia, Lesotho Tanzania and Algeria, and we believe that our players have seen what is expected from them when high performance is demanded.
“We are looking forward to the COSAFA Championships and we hope that we can put South Africa back on the map at junior level.”
South Africa have been drawn in Group C of the COSAFA Championships which takes place between 4- 13 December 2024. They will be up against Botswana, Comoros and Mauritius for a spot in the semi-finals.
Khumalo has called up a squad of 26 players which will be trimmed to 20 around 28 November 2024, before the team departs for the regional showpiece on 1 December 2024.
26 player squad:
| Goalkeepers | |
| RADEBE Lwandiso | SuperSport United FC |
| HOLDEN Luke | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| MOSIA Lehlohonolo | University of Pretoria FC |
| Defenders | |
| PAMA Sive | Cape Town City FC |
| MOKOKOSI Bokamoso | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| BOOYSEN Hayden | Ubuntu Football Academy |
| MCHUNU Ziyanda | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| MZIMELA Khayalethu | British Football Academy |
| MAJOLA Aphelele | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| LESHILO Bokang | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| MALATJI Royce | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| RUGUNANAN Tashiel | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| MADONDO Ayanda | KZN Academy |
| MAGASHA Nkanyiso | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| MIDFIELDERS | |
| MARALETSI Kamohelo | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| MLANGENI Teboho | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| STEVENS Selwyn | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| DHLAMINI Lebogang | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| MENDES Steven | Hammarby IF (Sweden) |
| ATTACKERS | |
| WITBOOI Emile | Cape Town City FC |
| LONZI Sivuziwe | Ubuntu Football Academy |
| BOHLOKO Neo | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| MHLONGO Obama | AmaZulu FC |
| SEKGOTO Omphemetse | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| ADAMS Adriano | Cape Town Spurs FC |
| MLONDO Simphiwe | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |