Nicho Mmitlwe delights in AmaWheelies African Champs triumph

The hosts defeated Libya 51-38 in the final at the Mandeville Indoor Sports Centre in Johannesburg, with the victory ensuring they retain their crown, while also booking their tickets to the 2025 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championship in Brazil.

Speaking exclusively to SABC Sport after the final whistle, an emotional Mmitlwe says he knows they will have to work harder to do well in Brazil.

"Wow, hey, I'm even shaking, I still can't believe it, but the boys did well and we're so excited for our next camp," reacted Mmitlwe. 

"It means a lot to the players, you can even see how emotional they were, but I can say, going to Brazil, we need to work very hard to succeed."

Mmitlwe says the nerves were at all-time high levels, especially in the closing stages of the game when Libya threw everything at them in a bid to come from behind.

"Nothing is easy, it's just that you have to speak to your players just to stay calm and just fight through – I think the nerves were too high because Libya was coming at us and breaking our [defence] so easily," he added.

"I felt that, me being on the side, they could hear what I'm saying and the message for them to switch came across to them."

READ: AmaWheelies captain dreaming of World Champs qualification