THE national under-17 side returned home yesterday as history makers after they beat Egypt over two legs to qualify for their first CAF African Championships.
The team returned home having achieved something none of their predecessors had managed, but were determined not to stop there.
"The road to Niger has ended. It is now 'Road to Chile'," was the message from coach Molefi Ntseki, as his team quickly looked to shift their focus to qualifying for the under-17 World Cup in Chile next year.
To do that, they will need a top-four finish in the 2015 CAF competition to be held in Niger in February and March.
But it will not be easy as they will come up against the likes of Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Mali in the eight-team tournament.
The coach was already thinking about that and is looking to bolster his squad ahead of the competition.
"We will look to strengthen the team because now we are talking about the next level," said Ntseki.
"I think it's important to tap in to players who never had a chance to be part of this team. If they qualify [and] they are good enough then yes, of course we will strengthen the team with those players."
The Amajimbos have not had a convincing record on the road recently, having won only one of their past four games away from home.
Ntseki believes the experience his players have gained is enough for this not to be a major concern for next year's tournament.
Amajimbos had to hold off a late surge from the Pharaohs - and distracting lasers from a partisan crowd - to draw the game 2-2 after holding a 2-0 lead in the first half.
They won the home leg 2-1.
South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan and Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula were at the OR Tambo International Airport to welcome the players and congratulated them on their achievement.
Mbalula also promised to reward the team financially for what they had done.
"I normally reward people. I'm going to give you money, [but] not now," Mbalula said.
"I'm going to reward you but not handsomely, because you have still got a job to do."
Ntseki ready to bolster Amajimbos ranks
THE national under-17 side returned home yesterday as history makers after they beat Egypt over two legs to qualify for their first CAF African Championships.
The team returned home having achieved something none of their predecessors had managed, but were determined not to stop there.
"The road to Niger has ended. It is now 'Road to Chile'," was the message from coach Molefi Ntseki, as his team quickly looked to shift their focus to qualifying for the under-17 World Cup in Chile next year.
To do that, they will need a top-four finish in the 2015 CAF competition to be held in Niger in February and March.
But it will not be easy as they will come up against the likes of Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Mali in the eight-team tournament.
The coach was already thinking about that and is looking to bolster his squad ahead of the competition.
"We will look to strengthen the team because now we are talking about the next level," said Ntseki.
"I think it's important to tap in to players who never had a chance to be part of this team. If they qualify [and] they are good enough then yes, of course we will strengthen the team with those players."
The Amajimbos have not had a convincing record on the road recently, having won only one of their past four games away from home.
Ntseki believes the experience his players have gained is enough for this not to be a major concern for next year's tournament.
Amajimbos had to hold off a late surge from the Pharaohs - and distracting lasers from a partisan crowd - to draw the game 2-2 after holding a 2-0 lead in the first half.
They won the home leg 2-1.
South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan and Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula were at the OR Tambo International Airport to welcome the players and congratulated them on their achievement.
Mbalula also promised to reward the team financially for what they had done.
"I normally reward people. I'm going to give you money, [but] not now," Mbalula said.
"I'm going to reward you but not handsomely, because you have still got a job to do."
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