Mdaka: Choosing the World Cup Team Was a Challenge
Coach Raymond Mdaka of Amajita has admitted that selecting his 21-man squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile was quite a daunting task.
The coach officially announced his squad on Thursday, just ahead of the tournament set to kick off later this month.
Key Players Excluded
Notable omissions from the squad include Club Bruggeβs forward Shandre Campbell and Orlando Piratesβ defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Unfortunately, neither player participated in the lineup that achieved victory in the CAF U-20 Championship in Morocco last May.
Mbokazi, who serves as vice-captain for Orlando Pirates, has represented the Bafana Bafana. He received the Man of the Match award during the recent FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.
The absence of both Campbell and Mbokazi in the squad’s 10-day training camp this month meant they were not selected, particularly as this tournament is not recognized on the official FIFA calendar. Campbell has also been instrumental for his club, featuring in Club Bruggeβs UEFA Champions League squad.
Mdakaβs Squad Choices
Despite the hurdles, Mdaka voiced confidence in his final team selection. He indicated that his extensive knowledge of most players made the tough choices a bit easier.
βThe final roster includes around 80 percent of players who have taken part in the programs since we initiated preparations through COSAFA and AFCON,β stated Mdaka, who was honored as the Coach of the Tournament in Morocco.
He further highlighted the significance of selecting players who regularly see action at their clubs. βTheir consistent minutes on the field keep us in great form, alleviating some concerns, given the talent we have,β he remarked.
Amajitaβs Challenge at the World Cup
Amajita is set to represent one of four African nations at the tournament, alongside Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt. The team has been assigned to Group E, where they will face New Caledonia, France, and the USA.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
- 29 September: vs. France
- 3 October: vs. New Caledonia
- 5 October: vs. USA
βAs the coaching staff, we are determined to represent our nation with pride,β Mdaka concluded. βWe will exert our best efforts to see how far we can progress in this tournament.β
Argentina holds the record for the most FIFA U-20 World Cup titles with six, followed closely by Brazil, while Uruguay remains the current defending champions after winning the 2023 edition.
