SA Football Association chief executive Dennis Mumble says the football association will not put pressure on coach Molefi Ntseki to reach the last stages of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile next month.
Mumble said the focus should rather be on building the players for the future.
Amajimbos will get their World Cup campaign under way in about three weeks and Mumble said Safa wanted the players to be competitive and to learn from the experience, considering it was the first time the team qualified for the global showpiece.
Amajimbos, who are in Group E with Russia, North Korea and Costa Rica, will play friendly matches against Brazil, Chile and New Zealand before the tournament kicks off. "For junior tournaments we don't want to have that [a mandate]. We are building experience for our senior teams," Mumble said.
"Yes at some point down the line, the more we participate in these type of competitions, I think we will be able to set certain mandates. I think they must go there and be themselves and express themselves. They must go on to the pitch with the intention of winning."
Mandla Ncikazi has joined the technical team as an analyst at the request of the head coach.
"The coach felt that he needed to bolster his technical team. We can feel comfortable that we have given him the level of support he needs," said Mumble.
Amajimbos coach Ntseki said: "We are hoping to do well. For us we are looking beyond the group stages. We know that anything can happen once you are in the knockout stages."
No pressure on U17s - Safa
SA Football Association chief executive Dennis Mumble says the football association will not put pressure on coach Molefi Ntseki to reach the last stages of the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile next month.
Mumble said the focus should rather be on building the players for the future.
Amajimbos will get their World Cup campaign under way in about three weeks and Mumble said Safa wanted the players to be competitive and to learn from the experience, considering it was the first time the team qualified for the global showpiece.
Amajimbos, who are in Group E with Russia, North Korea and Costa Rica, will play friendly matches against Brazil, Chile and New Zealand before the tournament kicks off. "For junior tournaments we don't want to have that [a mandate]. We are building experience for our senior teams," Mumble said.
"Yes at some point down the line, the more we participate in these type of competitions, I think we will be able to set certain mandates. I think they must go there and be themselves and express themselves. They must go on to the pitch with the intention of winning."
Mandla Ncikazi has joined the technical team as an analyst at the request of the head coach.
"The coach felt that he needed to bolster his technical team. We can feel comfortable that we have given him the level of support he needs," said Mumble.
Amajimbos coach Ntseki said: "We are hoping to do well. For us we are looking beyond the group stages. We know that anything can happen once you are in the knockout stages."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos