Amajita and Mamelodi Sundowns have again reinforced that South African football is riding the wave of a resurgence.
The South African Under-20s beat Morocco 1-0 in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final at June 30 Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday.
Coming as it did after a year-and-a-half of signs of definite revival after almost two decades of agonising underachievement by men’s football in the country, it served as another confirmation that there is now genuinely a revival that can be talked about, after so many false dawns.
Bafana Bafana’s bronze medal at last year’s Nations Cup kick-started things, and the team have qualified for the next Afcon in Morocco in December and January and have a real chance of reaching the 2026 World in Mexico, Canada and the US.
Coach Raymond Mdaka’s Amajita made history as they became the first South Africa U-20 side to lift their age group Afcon trophy.
They were the third South African team to win a Nations Cup — the previous two were Bafana Bafana in 1996 and Banyana Banyana in 2022 in the men’s and women’s senior versions.
Amajita were only the second SA U-20 side to reach the Afcon final — the last was coach Shakes Mashaba’s combination including Benni McCarthy, Matthew Booth, David Kannemeyer and Patrick Mbutho in 1997, 28 years ago. McCarthy was suspended and missed the final where hosts Morocco prevailed 1-0.
This year’s Amajita not only gained revenge for that defeat against Morocco, like that late 1990s generation — which included the likes of Quinton Fortune, Jabu Mahlangu and Siyabonga Nomvethe — they have given a promise of hope for the future.
Goalkeeper of the Tournament Fletcher Lowe, Player of the Tournament and centre-back Tylon Smith and Team of the Tournament members Neo Rapoo (left-back or wing) and Lazola Maku (midfield) have announced themselves as players to watch.
So have flying winger Shakeel April, final goalscorer Gomolemo Kekana (midfield) and Amajita top scorer Thabang Mahlangu (striker).
The U-20s’ success came after coach Vela Khumalo's U-17s reached the quarterfinals of their Afcon in Morocco, like Amajita qualifying for their age group World Cup with Emile Witbooi, Teboho Mlangeni and Neo Bohloko also emerging as future talents.
It feels good to be on a wave again after so many years watching others do the surfing
It is fitting that Sundowns provide the other part of this week’s confirmation that the resurgence is real. In many ways, Downs have led that development. Their 2016 Caf Champions League victory has prompted other clubs to follow suit pursuing continental glory and Sundowns’ yearly group and knockout stage exploits since have led the way in a new competitiveness in South African football — the core of Hugo Broos’s Bafana is built on Downs players.
On Saturday Downs play the first leg of their first Champions League final since 2016 against Pyramids FC at Loftus Versfeld. The second leg is in Cairo on June 1.
Further signs of a new health in football are that Orlando Pirates also reached the semifinals, the first time two South African sides have competed in the last four. Stellenbosch FC were in the semis of the lesser Caf Confederations Cup, the first time three South African sides have reached the last four in the Confederation of African Football's two interclub competitions.
The leadership of football in the country should be cautioned that this is just the start of riding a wave. If they don’t capitalise on the positive signs, it can all come crashing down.
The technical director largely credited with restoring the fortunes of the South African Football Association's junior teams — renowned scout Walter Steenbok, who sourced talent and hired strong coaches for sides that had been left rudderless — left the deeply troubled ruling body in March.
Reports are that one of the clubs whose outstanding academy has contributed to producing talent for the junior national sides and is also regularly plundered by rich neighbours, Sundowns — SuperSport United — may well be up for sale.
For now, the ride is smooth — and it feels good to be on a wave again after so many years watching others do the surfing.
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