Following Amajita’s 2-1 win over the United States of America (USA), their coach Raymond Mdaka is happy with he has seen so far at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup tournament in Chile.
Mdaka’s boys outdid themselves as they came from behind to beat the Americans, who were huge favourites going into the match.
“I think, honestly, the boys did a very good job. They showed character. They showed that they are the African champions,” Mdaka said.
“It was not an easy game. Playing the USA, who has already won two games with a number of goals, so it looks like it was a mountain to climb. But then we agreed as a team to show what we can as a team. And I’m happy because we showed character.”
Mdaka added: “Something that I like is the support that we are getting from home. You know, it shows much as we are here that we are together as a country. We promised the country just to do what we can. You see, sometimes it becomes better if you lose the game, but with every player or all the players having given in all they can. So we are together and we will push even the next game that is coming.”
“COSAFA, it was brilliant. AFCON, it was brilliant. Again here, we are showing the character that a team should be or a national team is supposed to be. And I think the team is blessed.”
The reigning African champions have now set up a date with their Colombian counterparts in a last-16 encounter at Estadio Fiscal starting at 21h30 on Wednesday.
“Obviously, you have your immediate goals, you have the longer goals to say, first and foremost, you make sure that you go beyond the group stage,” Mdaka remarked.
“So the next message is a different one because you will not play for a draw. You will play for the results. So we will grind, we’ll continue with the same character, with the same spirit. Whoever we play with will show that we are South Africa and we are here to compete in the tournament.”
