SERAME "Rhee" Letsoaka has emerged as the hot favourite to guide Amajita, the national under-20 side.

This comes after the South African Football Association appointed Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba as the new Bafana Bafana coach.

Letsoaka, pictured, is currently Bafana assistant coach, but his contract expires at the end of next month. He has also been tasked with leading the national under-19 side at the Durban International Football Tournament from July 31 to August 9.

"I don't know anything about the Amajita job, I think it's only fair to wait for the association to make an announcement," said Letsoaka yesterday.

"For now, I'm busy preparing the under-19 national team for the Durban tournament."

Like Mashaba, Letsoaka has done well with the junior national teams.

A senior Safa official, who declined to be named, said: "Serame is the obvious choice for the job."

Safa president Danny Jordaan said the issue of Mashaba's replacement as Amajita coach will be dealt with once Mashaba returns from the West Africa tour on August 5.

"The post is not vacant yet," said Jordaan. "For now Shakes is still in charge of Amajita."