As the Under-20 FIFA World Cup approaches, former Amajita assistant coach Reneilwe Letsholonyane has revealed what impresses him most about coach Raymond Mdaka.
The U-20 FIFA World Cup tournament will be staged in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.
The SA U-20 men’s team qualified for the World Cup after reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 CAF U-20 AFCON tournament held in Egypt. Mdaka’s charges went on to win the tournament for the first time, beating Morocco in the final.
Since Mdaka took over the coaching reins in March 2024, he has transformed Amajita into an indomitable force, winning the COSAFA U-20 Championships twice and the AFCON U-20 tournament.
On the other hand, Mdaka is a big admirer of Letsholonyane’s work. “You see, football has its own dynamics. ‘Yeye’ has been a player before we even speak about him playing in the World Cup,” said Mdaka in one of his interviews with FARPost.
“He has played for our teams in the country; he was an intelligent and very good player, and he played in the World Cup. Other than that, he is a coach who has just qualified for a CAF A license. So, it comes with a lot of practical insights into the game itself.”
WHAT RENEILWE LETSHOLONYANE MAKES OF RAYMOND MDAKA AS A COACH
The new Matebele FC head coach, Letsholonyane, portrayed coach Mdaka as a person who is tolerant of his players and encourages them to be themselves, which brings out the best in the young boys.
“I think coach Mdaka is one of the coaches I have worked with at the junior national teams at different levels, including the SA U-17 and the U-20. For me, coach Mdaka’s style of coaching is that of a calm coach who loves to give players space to think and find solutions for themselves,” ‘Yeye’ told FARPost.
“Whenever he stands up from his bench, it is just to remind the players to stick to the game plan and certain principles. You know, even when he is under pressure, he doesn’t shout at the players and doesn’t panic too much.”
Amajita are currently in camp in Pretoria, preparing for the upcoming U-20 FIFA World Cup.
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