PAYBACK time. That's how Amajita captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele described tomorrow's clash with Ghana in the Last-16 stage of the Fifa World Youth Championships in Egypt.
PAYBACK time. That's how Amajita captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele described tomorrow's clash with Ghana in the Last-16 stage of the Fifa World Youth Championships in Egypt.
The South African Under-20 side qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in South Africa's history through a well- deserved 2-0 win over Honduras on Saturday night.
Andile Jali, who was later sent off for a second bookable offence, and Sibusiso Khumalo netted the two goals in the 30th and 47th minutes, respectively.
"We knew that we had to win, otherwise we would be on our way back home. We should have won with a bigger margin. We missed too many chances," said Mphahlele, the Moroka Swallows defender.
Ghana beat South Africa 4-3 in the African Youth Championships semifinals in Rwanda in March. At one stage, Ghana led 3-0 in that game.
Amajita coach Serame "Rhee" Letsoaka echoed Mphahlele's sentiments and is equally confident that Amajita have what it takes to beat Ghana in an official game.
"After the defeat in Rwanda, we went to play them in Accra in May and won that match 5-3. We are looking forward to a tough one and I have no doubt we will beat them," he told Sowetan.
"I know after the 4-0 loss to Hungary many people wrote us off. Our boys froze in that match but the good thing is that we managed to bounce back against Honduras.
"We made it clear we do not only want to be the first Amajita to reach the knockout stages, but we want to go back home with something to show off in the form of a medal. We are still on track."
amajita eye Ghana
PAYBACK time. That's how Amajita captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele described tomorrow's clash with Ghana in the Last-16 stage of the Fifa World Youth Championships in Egypt.
PAYBACK time. That's how Amajita captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele described tomorrow's clash with Ghana in the Last-16 stage of the Fifa World Youth Championships in Egypt.
The South African Under-20 side qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in South Africa's history through a well- deserved 2-0 win over Honduras on Saturday night.
Andile Jali, who was later sent off for a second bookable offence, and Sibusiso Khumalo netted the two goals in the 30th and 47th minutes, respectively.
"We knew that we had to win, otherwise we would be on our way back home. We should have won with a bigger margin. We missed too many chances," said Mphahlele, the Moroka Swallows defender.
Ghana beat South Africa 4-3 in the African Youth Championships semifinals in Rwanda in March. At one stage, Ghana led 3-0 in that game.
Amajita coach Serame "Rhee" Letsoaka echoed Mphahlele's sentiments and is equally confident that Amajita have what it takes to beat Ghana in an official game.
"After the defeat in Rwanda, we went to play them in Accra in May and won that match 5-3. We are looking forward to a tough one and I have no doubt we will beat them," he told Sowetan.
"I know after the 4-0 loss to Hungary many people wrote us off. Our boys froze in that match but the good thing is that we managed to bounce back against Honduras.
"We made it clear we do not only want to be the first Amajita to reach the knockout stages, but we want to go back home with something to show off in the form of a medal. We are still on track."
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