Amajita must win big against Burundi
AMAJITA ARE yet to lose in the ongoing Africa Youth Championships (AYC) in Niger, but coach Thabo Senong believes that their last group match against Burundi today will be their real test of character.
Amajita are third in group A, where they trail Nigeria by three points after two matches, and will need a high scoring win against Burundi in order to finish in the top two of the group, and automatically qualify for the World Cup in May.
Those goals haven’t been forthcoming. They drew against hosts Niger (0-0) and Nigeria (1-1) in the last two matches.
“I said from the beginning that all these games are tight and we are in a tough group, but we’ll have to work hard in the final game. (But) if we still want to be part of the tournament, it’s a must win against Burundi and we need to score goals,” Senong acknowledged.
“It won’t be easy but it can be possible if we can work hard, and come up with other solutions (to our scoring problems).”
Their campaign has been hindered by the absence of the majority of the overseas based players who were pivotal in Senong’s plans for this tournament.
Striker Lyle
Foster was instrumental in Amajita’s backto-back Cosafa Cup triumphs in Zambia in 2017 and 2018.
The lanky forward was snatched by French giants AS Monaco during the January transfer window.
With the continental showpiece not included in the Fifa calendar, there was no law obligating clubs to release their players for international duty.
However, in Portugal and England the request was well received as Kobamelo Kodisang and Khanya Leshabela reported for international duty.
Senong is banking on an improved communications chain with the overseas clubs in future.
“It was tough (that we didn’t get the players that we needed), but maybe some clubs cooperated with other nations,” Senong said.
“But I wouldn’t really comment about when is the tournament supposed to be hosted. But I think the cooperation on our side in terms of getting the players that we need has to increase.”
Despite Amajita’s misfortunes in front of goal, they’ve been solid defensively. And that will be handy against a Burundian team that fought their way back after trailing hosts Niger 3-0 and salvaged a point in the second round of matches in the group.
Amajita saw the return of skipper Khulekani Kubheka for the second match. He missed the first as he served two yellow card suspensions from the qualifiers.
“Our game plan in every match is to make sure that we keep it solid at the back and stay organised,” Senong said.
“But you would see that we are very limited in attack as compared to other teams like Niger, Nigeria and Burundi. We left out some of our good strikers that were not released (particularly by the overseas-based club), so it was going to be important that we close the shop.”
The teams will lock horns at Stade de Maradi in Maradi with kick-off at 5.30pm.