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Amajimbos in camp for World Cup

OPTIMISTIC: Amajimbos face Nigeria's Golden Eaglets in the semifinals of the African Under-17 Championship in Niger today
OPTIMISTIC: Amajimbos face Nigeria's Golden Eaglets in the semifinals of the African Under-17 Championship in Niger today

With just four months left before the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile kicks off, Molefi Ntseki is using the little time he has to make sure his boys are ready for the team's maiden appearance at the competition.

Amajimbos may have done extremely well to reach the African junior championships final in Niger in February, but Ntseki knows Chile will be a different ball game and does not want his team to get humiliated by some of the top countries that will compete in the competition.

Amajimbos, one of four African countries set to participate at the World Cup, are in camp until July 12 and Ntseki is hoping the SA Football Association will organise a couple of friendly matches for the boys next week.

"The World Cup will be a higher level than what we experienced when we were in Niger. We want our players to get to a level where they can compete consistently at the World Cup," Ntseki said.

"That's very important. It's not about working on the physical side. We are working on the tactical and mental side of things.

"It's very difficult when you do not get to work with the players on a regular basis, but there is nothing we can do except be creative in dealing with the whole situation.

"What is working for us is that we know the weaknesses and strengths of our boys because we have been with this group for a while. So when they come into camp we know what to work on. We will do our best.

"We have the core of the team that went to Niger and we have added new faces that we are assessing."

The group stage draw for the World Cup will be done in August.

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