Mosimane Praises 'Inspirational' Amajita

New Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane praised Raymond Mdaka and South Africa's U20 team after Amajita successfully defended their COSAFA title with a 2-1 victory over host Mozambique in Maputo on September 29, 2026. Oarabile Booysen opened the scoring before Mozambique equalized shortly after, but Kaizer Chiefs forward Steven Mendes restored South Africa's lead from the penalty spot in the second half to secure the trophy. Mendes finished the tournament as the Golden Boot winner with six goals.

The victory meant Mdaka's side had now won the regional title for three consecutive years, while also securing qualification for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Mozambique. For Mosimane, this success provides further evidence of the strength of South Africa's youth development structures and the potential pathway into the senior national team.

"It's very motivating and an inspirational story from our U20 national team. Coach Raymond Mdaka has done exceptionally well with the boys and consistently," Mosimane said, speaking to SAFA media. The newly appointed Bafana coach believes the foundations laid at the youth level will provide South Africa with a consistent talent pool for the senior national team.

"It only shows our programs in South Africa are good. We have a very good base with the DDC, the Gauteng Development League. We are a bit ahead of those programs," he commented.

Mosimane highlighted the importance of players receiving regular competitive football from an early age, describing the development structures as a "conveyor belt" toward the national teams. "But we have this platform and base for these boys coming up from U14 to U17 – who are playing regularly, week in, week out, and that has given us the conveyor belt. Our U17 and U20 will remain strong," he explained.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach also called for further strengthening of the structures, referencing the number of professional clubs represented in the Gauteng Development League. "I just hope we strengthen that program because it’s one of the leading ones on the continent. Coach Raymond Mdaka has done well with the products coming from there, which include Sundowns, Pirates, Siwelele, everyone in that league," Mosimane added.

He indicated that the competitiveness and length of the youth program would ultimately benefit the senior national team. "So competitive players are in there week in week out on a 10-month program. This is very good what we’re doing," he said. "Congrats to coach Raymond, repeatedly with the team. They are giving us a foundation at the top, to the U23 and Bafana Bafana; we can see what’s coming."

Among the emerging talents catching Mosimane's attention is Cape Town City youngster Emile Witbooi, who has been a standout in South Africa’s youth setup. "I know there’s a Witbooi dribbling people out there, which is good. We need to really know our supply chain," Mosimane remarked. "So, congratulations to the boys; they have made us proud."

South Africa’s latest triumph continues the momentum surrounding Mdaka’s generation, with Amajita establishing themselves as the dominant side in the COSAFA U20 competition while producing players who could form part of the country’s senior international pipeline.