Mdaka backs Amajita to compete without Mbokazi at Afcon

Raymond Mdaka is disappointed that he'll be without one of his talismans for the upcoming Africa Youth Championships, but he says the show must go on.

Coach Mdaka will guide his SA U20 men’s national team - Amajita - in the youth Afcon which is scheduled to kick-off in Egypt on Sunday.

Amajita have to be at their best in north Africa as the event will also serve as a qualification for the U20 World Cup which will be hosted in Chile later this year.

But before they can dream about qualifying for the global showpiece for the first time since 2019 under coach Thabo Senong, they need to do well in the group stages in the land of pharoahs.

Amajita are in Group A alongside hosts Egypt, Cosafa neighbours Zambia, west Africans Sierra Leone and east Africans Tanzania.

Their group stage campaign won’t be easy as each team will play an extra game in the group due to the rescheduling of the tournament from Ivory Coast to Egypt recently.

Add that to the fact that Amajita will also be without centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi who was not released by Orlando Pirates due to club commitments.

Mbokazi is an integral part of the Pirates team, and with the side chasing for the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup titles, his contribution will be key.

Mdaka, speaking to the media after Amajita’s last warmup match in Bedfordview before flying out to Egypt on Wednesday, opened up about missing out on Mbokazi.

“I need to be very honest with you - the boy was key in terms of our defence,” Mdaka explained.

“As a coach, if he’s a player that you’ve been with since the beginning of the first camp when I took over (then it’s a major blow).

“Players tend to understand each other - how they play and all these other things - so, honestly, he was one of the key players in our defence.”

Mdaka is not crying over spilt milk, though. He believes the return of Siviwe Nkwali and availability of Thato Sibiya will reinforce his defence.

And that’s not all. First team players such as Mfundo Vilakazi of Kaizer Chiefs and Kutlwano Letlhaku of Mamelodi Sundowns have been released by their respective clubs.

Captain Asekho Tiwani will also remain in Egypt after Mamelodi Sundowns play their Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Al Ahly on Friday.

Mdaka, though, is also drawing inspiration from the fact that the PSL reserve team - the DStv Diski Challenge - has been in full swing as most of his players will have match-fitness.

“Let’s agree that it’s going to be tough, but the core of the players play week in and week out in the DDC,” Mdaka explained.

“So even the test that we did, the physical test, said we should be okay. It can only be the number (of games) - due to injuries and such - that can affect us.”

Mdaka would have loved to ensure that his troops are in tip-top form for Afcon, and that’s why they had planned their last friendly at the hosting country.

But after the changes at the 11th hour, including rescheduling the event for Egypt instead of Ivory Coast, Mdaka says they had to cancel some of their plans as well.

“Earlier on, we had prepared for that. It was something that we would have loved to have, but no, as a coach you must always know you are on your toes,” Mdaka said.

“The technical team and the boys know that once things change, you really and immediately adjust.

“In the initial preparation, we were to play Congo, but they also had to change because the changes affected them as the tournament was rescheduled.”

Amajitaa will face the hosts, Egypt, in the opening match of the tournament at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday (8pm), and Mdaka says that match can make or break their tournament.

“Pschologically, if you want your boys to settle, the supporters become the supporters of football when you do your best - people that are there start supporting you,” he said.

“But at the same time, we felt it’s a blessing when you are playing the first game against them because there'll be no calculations. Nothing has happened.

“As much as you have an analyst, it’s pocket analysis. But if you go there after playing games, they’ll know a thing or two about you. So, I think it’s going to be an open game.”