New Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has praised Raymond Mdaka and South Africa’s U20 setup after Amajita successfully defended their COSAFA title with a 2-1 victory over hosts Mozambique in Maputo on Sunday.
Oarabile Booysen opened the scoring before Mozambique equalised shortly afterwards, but Kaizer Chiefs forward Steven Mendes restored South Africa’s lead from the penalty spot in the second half to secure the trophy. Mendes finished the tournament as the Golden Boot winner with six goals.
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The victory means Mdaka’s side have now won the regional title in three consecutive years, while also securing qualification for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Mozambique.
For Mosimane, the latest success provides further evidence of the strength of South Africa’s youth development structures and the potential pathway into the senior national team.
“It’s very motivating and an inspirational story from our U20 national team, coach Raymond Mdaka has done exceptionally well with the boys and consistently,” Mosimane said, speaking to SAFA media.
The newly appointed Bafana coach believes the foundations being laid at youth level can provide South Africa with a consistent supply of players for the senior national team.
“It only shows our programs in South Africa are good, we have a very good base with the DDC, the Gauteng Development League, we are a bit ahead of those programs,” he said.
“I think the GDL is leading in the continent, that league from the Gauteng FA, it’s leading in terms of its numbers, I’m happy to be corrected.”
Mosimane highlighted the importance of players receiving regular competitive football from an early age, with the development structures providing what he described as a “conveyor belt” towards the national teams.
“But we have this platform and base for these boys coming up from U14 to U17 – who are playing regularly, week in, week out and that has given us the conveyor belt. And our U17 and U20 will remain strong,” he explained.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach also called for the structures to be strengthened further, pointing to the number of professional clubs represented in the Gauteng Development League.
“I just hope we strengthen that program because it’s one of the leading ones in the continent, so coach Raymond Mdaka has done well with the products that are coming from there, that has Sundowns, Pirates, Siwelele, everyone in that league,” Mosimane added.
The Bafana coach believes the competitiveness and length of the youth programme can ultimately benefit the senior national team.
“So competitive players in there week in week out on a 10-month program, this is very good what we’re doing,” he said.
“Congrats to coach Raymond, repeatedly with the team, they are giving us foundation at the top, to the U23 and Bafana Bafana, we can see what’s coming.”
One of the emerging talents Mosimane appears to have taken note of is Cape Town City youngster Emile Witbooi, who has been a standout name within South Africa’s youth setup.
“I know there’s a Witbooi, dribbling people out there, which is good, we need to really know our supply chain,” Mosimane said.
“So, congratulations to the boys, they have made us proud.”
South Africa’s latest triumph also continues the momentum around Mdaka’s generation, with Amajita having now established themselves as the dominant side in the COSAFA U20 competition while producing players who could form part of the country’s senior international pipeline.