Amajita seek final place in Russia

The South African under-20 side take on Belarus in the semifinals of the Commonwealth Cup in the Russian city of St Petersburg today on a run of form that bodes well for the African Youth Championships later in the year.

Amajita defeated tournament hosts Russia 2-0 in their quarterfinal on Wednesday, a result made all the sweeter in that many of the Russians were a year older in a tournament that is actually open to under-21 teams.

What will be pleasing for interim coach David Notoane, as well as senior team boss Shakes Mashaba, who never has his eye far from the junior sides, is the manner in which the team have progressed through the competition.

Just two goals conceded in four games is a good achievement, while they also went through the pool stage unbeaten.

The goals against Russia came from Portugal-based midfielder Pule Maraisane and University of Pretoria’s Siphelele Luthuli, but the man of the match award went to SuperSport United goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi, an example of the pressure that the side were placed under.

What is heartening too is that the squad is missing some star names, not least FC Twente midfielder Nhlakanipho Ntuli, who was not released by his club.

One Dutch-based player is in the side though in little-known midfielder Ricky Lourenco, who is in the junior set-up at PEC Zwolle and has been a star in the tournament so far.

It bodes well for the African Youth Championships to be staged in Senegal in under two months’ time, where South Africa could clinch a rare place at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand starting in late May.

They will have to get through a first round group that includes Ghana, Zambia and Mali to do so, but the experience gained in Russia should stand them in good stead.

If South Africa advance past Belarus today they will play the winner of the second semifinal between Finland and Turkmenistan.