Amajita

Mdaka Embraces Pressure Ahead of Amajita’s COSAFA Title Defence

You are currently viewing Mdaka Embraces Pressure Ahead of Amajita’s COSAFA Title Defence
Raymond Mdaka coach of South Africa during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations U20 South Africa Training on the 14 May 2025 at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Amajita head coach Raymond Mdaka is well aware of the pressure that comes with entering the COSAFA U20 Championship as defending champions.

The South African coach officially announced his final 23-man squad for the upcoming COSAFA U20 Men’s Championship.

The COSAFA U20 Men’s Championship will take place in Mozambique from 18 to 27 September, with South Africa entering the tournament determined to defend their regional crown.

Amajita have been placed in Group B alongside Lesotho, Angola and Eswatini as they begin their campaign to retain the title they secured last year.

Mdaka believes opponents will be better prepared for South Africa this time around, but says his side must embrace the challenge and focus on defending the title with the resources at their disposal.

“Football is always about pressure and if we’re going to the competition as nobodies like we did last year, then you will take advantage and say we will see what happens on the field.

“But anyone who has been put in our group will prepare thoroughly, so it’s a challenge on its own.

“And also, at the same time it would be good for us to go there and defend what we achieved previously, which is a big challenge, but other than that, we just have to fight with what we have.”