. 1 September 2014 - Outgoing Amajita coach Shakes Mashaba, who saw the U20 team qualify for the CAF Youth championships in Senegal next year after beating Cameroon 2-1 at Peter Mokaba Stadium for a 3-2 aggregate score, said Bafana Bafana must emulate the youngsters and complete an unfolding turnaround fortunes within all South Africa’s national football teams.
Mashaba, who will oversee Bafana Bafana squad training at Marks Park today Monday, 1 September 2014, having travelled from Polokwane soon after the Amajita win, challenged the Senior Men’s National team to maintain the high standards set by the youngsters.
“I have always said that the fortunes of South African football have totally changed for the better in recent times and it is a good feeling to go into the Bafana Bafana camp with the U20 CAF qualification in the bag. Now it is time to move on and I am asking the senior players to take this positive vibe forward.
Mashaba, who will oversee Bafana Bafana squad training at Marks Park today Monday, 1 September 2014, having travelled from Polokwane soon after the Amajita win, challenged the Senior Men’s National team to maintain the high standards set by the youngsters.
“I have always said that the fortunes of South African football have totally changed for the better in recent times and it is a good feeling to go into the Bafana Bafana camp with the U20 CAF qualification in the bag. Now it is time to move on and I am asking the senior players to take this positive vibe forward.
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“This is great for the country and football at large. What I would now like to request is for the country to rally around all our national teams because we are bringing that pride back,” said Mashaba adding he would give the South African Football Association (SAFA) his own views about the U20 squad and whom he thinks will take the team forward.
“I am proud of these young guys. They showed determination, guts and a never-say-die attitude. That is what I expect of everyone who dons the national colours; patriotism and passion are non-negotiable for me,” added Mashaba.
Meanwhile, in congratulating Mashaba, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said Amajita’s qualification was a culmination of the new Executive’s broader plan to develop South African football through Vision 2022.
“Since our coming into office in September 2013, we have made soccer development our fundamental philosophy and as all can see, things are beginning to fall into place.
“Amajita have now joined Banyana Banyana in qualifying for a major continental tournament and our U17 are two games away (against Egypt) from qualifying for the CAF Junior champs to be played in Niger next year. We are right in the middle of an exciting evolution,” said Dr Jordaan.
“To us (SAFA), the watchword is development, development and more development. Our U13 and 15 leagues for both girls and boys are being played around our 52 Regions and this chain reaction culminates into our junior national teams performing at the highest level.”
“I am proud of these young guys. They showed determination, guts and a never-say-die attitude. That is what I expect of everyone who dons the national colours; patriotism and passion are non-negotiable for me,” added Mashaba.
Meanwhile, in congratulating Mashaba, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said Amajita’s qualification was a culmination of the new Executive’s broader plan to develop South African football through Vision 2022.
“Since our coming into office in September 2013, we have made soccer development our fundamental philosophy and as all can see, things are beginning to fall into place.
“Amajita have now joined Banyana Banyana in qualifying for a major continental tournament and our U17 are two games away (against Egypt) from qualifying for the CAF Junior champs to be played in Niger next year. We are right in the middle of an exciting evolution,” said Dr Jordaan.
“To us (SAFA), the watchword is development, development and more development. Our U13 and 15 leagues for both girls and boys are being played around our 52 Regions and this chain reaction culminates into our junior national teams performing at the highest level.”
By: Editor
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