Tzaneen coach lifts African Cup of Nations trophy
TZANEEN – Congratulatory messages are flooding in for Raymond Mdaka, head coach of South Africa's u/20 national soccer team, Amajita, after leading the squad to a historic victory at the 2024 African Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Amajita secured a hard-fought 1–0 win over Morocco in the final, held in Egypt on Sunday night, May 18.
Mdaka, who hails from Mokgwathi village in Bolobedu and now resides in Nkowankowa, has etched his name into the history books by guiding the team to become the first South African soccer side to lift the Afcon u/20 title.
Reflecting on the win, Mdaka said the achievement goes beyond football; it symbolises belief, perseverance, and the power of opportunity.
'This trophy belongs to every young dreamer who dares to chase greatness, and to every community that nurtures those dreams. To the players, staff, families, and supporters, thank you. Let's keep building, inspiring, and empowering,' he said.
This marks the second major title for Mdaka and his young squad. In October last year, he also led Amajita to victory in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup held in Mozambique.
In recognition of his contributions to sport, Mdaka was honored in January with the MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture Award during the Limpopo Sports Awards.
Greater Tzaneen Municipality Mayor Gerson Molapisane praised the coach's outstanding leadership and extended his congratulations.
'We are incredibly proud of coach Mdaka's exceptional guidance and the determination displayed by Amajita throughout the tournament. This victory is proof of what can be accomplished through discipline, teamwork, and resilience,' the mayor said, adding that the community is eagerly awaiting Mdaka's return to Tzaneen to celebrate the milestone.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Jose Riveiro reveals the real reason he left Orlando Pirates?
Earlier this year, Jose Riveiro dropped a bombshell when he announced that he would not extend his stay when his contract at Orlando Pirates expired. At the time he made the announcement, the Buccaneers were well poised to win at least two trophies, but poor form saw the team finish with just the MTN8, which they won at the beginning of the season. After losing the Nedbank Cup final on 10 May, Jose Riveiro asked the Pirates management to release him early as he had already signed with a new club. At the time, the Sea Robbers had nothing to play for with the league already out of reach. The Spaniard won five trophies in three seasons and while most coaches would want to continue winning, Riveiro chose to leave. He did make a hint last year when he mentioned how far he was away from his family. Having joined Al Ahly, the 49-year-old has revealed that his wife's dream is to live in Egypt as she adores the culture. 'I am married and have a 6-year-old daughter, and I'm very happy that she's part of my life,' he told Al Ahly TV. '[I am] thrilled that she'll have the opportunity to come live in Egypt. 'My wife loves Egypt and adores Egyptian culture, and her father used to work in Egypt,' Riveiro concluded. Jose Riveiro might have had success at Pirates, but time away from his family took a toll on him. Given Egypt is much closer to Spain, it makes sense why he decided to relocate and coach in North Africa. His wife's love for Egypt made his decision to leave Pirates muach easier. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs cool interest in Terrence Mashego
Kaizer Chiefs are actively searching for a new left-back, but recent developments suggest that Terrence Mashego of Mamelodi Sundowns is no longer on their radar. Despite being linked with the 29-year-old, the Glamour Boys appear to have shifted their attention elsewhere. Mashego, who joined Sundowns in September 2022, may exit the club at the end of June. His future hangs in the balance, especially with Sundowns keen to secure the services of Stellenbosch FC's Fawaaz Basadien. However, sources close to the situation have confirmed that Mashego won't be heading to Naturena. A source revealed that Chiefs had the chance to sign Mashego earlier this year but opted against it. 'Sundowns offered Mashego to Chiefs in January, and they turned it down,' said the source. Despite being previously linked with the former Cape Town City defender, Amakhosi seem firmly focused on Basadien as their primary target. But with Sundowns also vying for the Stellies star, Chiefs could be forced to look at alternative options to strengthen their backline. Mashego has struggled for regular minutes at Chloorkop, and his frustration is beginning to show. Although he has made 45 appearances since joining Sundowns, this season he has featured in only 13 matches, a drop that reportedly led to his exclusion from the Bafana Bafana squad. Adding to the drama, Sundowns have now triggered the contract extension clause in Mashego's deal, likely as a strategic move to retain control over his future amid increasing interest from Stellenbosch FC. With Mashego's future up in the air and Kaizer Chiefs laser-focused on other targets. The upcoming transfer window promises plenty of twists. Whether Chiefs can beat Sundowns to Basadien's signature, or are forced to pursue a third option, remains to be seen. Which left-back should Kaizer Chiefs sign? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
PSL finally announces new dates for the playoffs
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has officially announced new dates for the relegation/promotion playoffs. The three-team mini-tournament was initially scheduled to get underway on 27 May but the league had to postpone it. And this was due to unresolved issues in the Motsepe Foundation Championship involving Durban City, JDR Stars and Cape Town Spurs. Both JDR Stars and Cape Town Spurs accused champions Durban City of fielding Saziso Magawana, claiming he was not properly registered. However, their cases were dismissed last, and thus, paving way for Durban City to be crowned champions. Now, the ruling also meant both Orbit College and Casric Stars were to play in the playoffs alongside Cape Town City. Of course, Cape Town City are disappointed with the PSL that the game between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows had to be replayed after the season had 'officially' concluded. Nonetheless, they have since accepted their fate and are gearing up for the playoffs to try and retain their Betway Premiership status. PSL confirms relegation/promotion playoffs dates. Image: @officialpsl/X Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
