Amajita conquer Africa! SA's youth continue to rise

THE investment that has been made in the growth of South African youth football paid off on the continental stage on Sunday, as the Under-20 men's national team won the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

Amajita etched their names into the record books of continental football by winning their first-ever Africa youth championship.

En route to the title on Sunday night, Amajita beat Morocco 1-0 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, courtesy of a second-half goal by Gomolemo Kekana. That win means Amajita will head to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September as African champions, surpassing the class of 1997 who finished as runners-up.

South African youth football has been on the rise recently, with the Under-17 men's national team Amajimbos - also qualifying for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in late November. This upward trajectory comes as the PSL reserve league - the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) - celebrates 10 years of existence and success. The DDC has been a breeding and nurturing ground for some of the top exports the country has ever produced, including Bafana Bafana's talisman, Percy Tau. In his U20 Afcon squad, coach Raymond Mdaka included players who are either currently playing in the reserve league or have graduated from it.