Vela Khumalo finalising Amajimbos AFCON-bound squad as D-day looms

The SA U17 Men’s team, who secured qualification following CAF’s decision to increase the number of participating teams, is currently in camp in Johannesburg before departing for the AFCON next Monday. 

Speaking just after their training match against the SA U20 Men’s team yesterday, Khumalo says they are ready and raring to go.

"The team is looking good, I'm happy. We are in a good space, the boys are here, they just had a good friendly game against the U20s, it was not looking bad, it was a good one," said Khumalo.

"The U20s showed us they are U20 and we are U17, but we played very well and I'm happy. It shows that we are ready for AFCON.

"We have 26 players coming for this camp, and we're still missing the Cape Town [contingent], they haven't arrived, so when they arrive then we'll be able to know exactly who we are submitting on the [final list].

"More or less, the team is there, it's just to qualify it, confirm and reassure what we have seen in the previous camp."

Back in 2020 Khumalo was denied the opportunity of leading Amajimbos at the AFCON due to the COVID pandemic, and he’s relishing this second opportunity.

"Most definitely, they process of qualifying is not difficult – yes, I did qualify with the previous team, and it did not happen, and now I have another opportunity with these talented boys," he added.

"More than anything, we are hoping to go to the World Cup – number one and two in the group will go through, so we stand a good chance of really going through, if we can apply ourselves better, and it's the ultimate [target] – we want to see ourselves in the World Cup."

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