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Mkhalele believes Cosafa final run has paved way for Mauritania 2021 qualification

Amajita interim coach Helman Mkhalele talks to his players as they prepare for the Cosafa Cup that kicks off next week. He's been told to win the competition if he wants the job on a full-time basis.
Amajita interim coach Helman Mkhalele talks to his players as they prepare for the Cosafa Cup that kicks off next week. He's been told to win the competition if he wants the job on a full-time basis.
Image: SAFA

Helman Mkhalele believes he has established the core of the team from his Cosafa Under-20 Cup finalists who will partake in the qualifiers for the Mauritania 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

Mkhalele’s Amajita lost 3-0 against hosts Zambia in the Cosafa U-20 final in Lusaka on Saturday.

They topped Group B with a 5-0 win against Mauritius‚ 1-1 draw against Madagascar and 4-0 thrashing of Lesotho. In the semifinals SA fought back from 2-0 down to 2-2 to beat tough Madagascar on penalties.

Mkhalele‚ who rebuilt a team that assembled mostly as strangers to each other two weeks before the tournament‚ believes the Cosafa was the perfect growing stage for himself as coach‚ and the players‚ towards Mauritania 2021.

“Most of these players that I have identified will form the core of the team‚” the former Bafana Bafana winger said.

“And also it will also give the opportunity to some of the players who struggled to perform to their maximum ability in this tournament more time to adapt.

“And make sure that by the time when we play the qualifiers they will be at a level that is required at international level.

“This tournament was a good learning curve for me as a coach‚ and also for the players.

“Because we have a number of good players who I believe are inspired by the results we have achieved. So they would want to be in the team.

“But one thing they will also know is how important it is for them to work hard at club level.

“So I would say this tournament really helped me as a coach to help map the way forward‚ together with my technical team.

“And it also helped the players to have an idea where they are in terms of their individual talents. And being aware of what is needed to work on to qualify for selection in the Amajita set-up.”

Among Mkhalele’s talent‚ SuperSport United’s highly-rated forward Oswin Apollis‚ who made his Premier Soccer League debut in a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch FC last month‚ scored the brace against Madagascar that took SA to the final‚ and four goals in the tournament. Sinenjongo Mkiva of Bidvest Wits scored three goals.

The Cosafa U-20 Cup was Mkhalele’s first assignment as Amajita head coach‚ replacing Thabo Senong‚ who he had previously assisted. Senong now is head coach of Lesotho’s senior team.