Phakaaathi.co.za Ntseki: We have a chance
COACH: THE TEAM REMAINS POSITIVE
Amajimbos head coach Molefi Ntseki says they will respect each and every opponent they will face at the Cosafa Under-17 championships, to be played in Mauritius next month.
The competition consists of 12 nations assembled in three groups and the South African Under-17 side has been placed in Group B alongside reigning champions Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho.
The tournament serves as a qualifier for the Under-17 Africa Youth Championships (AYC) which will be held in Tanzania next year. However, only the overall winners of the tournament get to participate at the AYC. Ntseki says if his charges manage to win the tournament they would have gained enough experience to help them to compete at the AYC.
“You are talking about 14 Cosafa countries and you have only 12 participating. It is very interesting because you have to win your matches, you have to win your group, you have to win the semi-final and you have to win the final to qualify for the AYC in Tanzania. So you can’t say a particular country is a threat or weaker opponent, we will give respect to every country that will be taking part because I think in doing so, it will help us to do well in our
We will give respect to every country that will be taking part.
matches and in our group,” Ntseki was quoted as saying on the Cosafa website.
“If ever we can go all the way and win the final, we would have played five matches and five matches would have given our boys five caps of international football and experience and going to the eight-nation AYC in Tanzania, we will have played enough to withstand the pressures of international football.”
Ntseki adds that his players need to be mentally ready for the competition, but he is optimistic they will triumph.
“We will need a high level of mental strength, a high level of tactical endurance and discipline because if we don’t, we will not do well in this tournament. But with what we have with the technical team and everyone involved the coaches from the clubs and the academies we are very positive that we will do very well in the tournament.”