Latest news with #GomolemoKekana
The Herald
27-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
Amajita hero Kekana praises teamwork for goal that won SA the U-20 Afcon
Amajita's U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final hero Gomolemo Kekana, 18, is in no rush to play top-flight football, insisting he's still developing. He said his focus is on trying to return to his best shape after a long layoff last year. Kekana is on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns' DStv Diski Challenge team and has trained with the senior Brazilians on a few occasions. He engraved his name in South African football folklore by scoring the goal that saw Amajita beat Morocco 1-0 in the U-20 Afcon final in Cairo this month. 'God's timing is forever perfect, so I won't rush the process,' Kekana said. 'I am trusting the process without putting pressure on myself to say now I must play for the first team. 'I will continue to work hard and it's up to the coaches to decide whether to promote me. I am not in a rush. I've come from a long-term injury last year, so my focus is to accumulate as many minutes as I can to return to my best shape.'
Eyewitness News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Amajita's AFCON U20 win shines light on grassroots initiatives
This includes Gomolemo Kekana, who netted the winning goal, and Tylon Smit,h who walked away with the player of the tournament award. 'We are incredibly proud of Amajita. This remarkable achievement underscores the impact that grassroots development initiatives, such as our DStv Diski Challenge, play in unearthing and nurturing exceptional football talent. With 18 of the players competing regularly in the Reserve League, the DDC has served as a crucial platform, providing young players with the competitive environment and exposure necessary to reach their full potential,' said Rendani Ramovha, CEO of SuperSport. South Africa's Under-20 head coach Raymond Mdaka also credited the DSTV Diski Challenge for playing an important role in football development in South Africa. 'I salute the DDC because it made it easy for us to be able to see players weekend over weekend going to different places, seeing them and also following them the country is so big, if it wasn't for the DDC we weren't going to be able to see them. You couldn't drive maybe to have follow ups but through the DDC we were able to do that. We salute and we say they have done a good job for the country,' said Mdaka. Amajita have followed in the footsteps of Bafana Bafana's in 1996 and Banyana Banyana's in 2022 teams, in scooping the continental title.
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Amajita conquer Africa! South Africa's youth continue to rise to continental glory
The SA U20 national men's team won the U20 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday after beating Morocco 1-0 in the final. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The investment that has been made in the growth of South African youth football paid off on the continental stage on Sunday, as the Under-20 men's national team won the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Amajita etched their names into the record books of continental football by winning their first-ever Africa youth championship. En route to the title on Sunday night, Amajita beat Morocco 1–0 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, courtesy of a second-half goal by Gomolemo Kekana. That win means Amajita will head to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September as African champions, surpassing the class of 1997 who finished as runners-up. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ South African youth football has been on the rise recently, with the Under-17 men's national team – Amajimbos – also qualifying for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in late November. This upward trajectory comes as the PSL reserve league – the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) – celebrates 10 years of existence and success. The DDC has been a breeding and nurturing ground for some of the top exports the country has ever produced, including Bafana Bafana's talisman, Percy Tau. In his U20 Afcon squad, coach Raymond Mdaka included players who are either currently playing in the reserve league or have graduated from it. Kekana and Tylon Smith, who scored the title-winning goal and won the Player of the Tournament award respectively, are on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch reserve teams, respectively. Mfundo Vilakazi, Neo Rapoo and Kutlwano Letlhaku are notable DDC graduates now playing for their respective senior teams. Speaking at his post-match press conference after the final, Mdaka heaped praise on the impact of the DDC on South African football, addressing the media including SABC Sport. 'Back home, we used to have interviews and we said the number of players that we see are playing in the DDC,' Mdaka said. 'Most of them were promoted to their senior teams after our games in Mozambique, which says a lot about the youth – we seem to be getting there as a team. 'That's the foundation of the senior national team. The U17 national team has also qualified for the World Cup.' South Africa lift the #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 trophy for the first time ever 🇿🇦🏆 — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 18, 2025 Mdaka noted that the DDC has made scouting easier for him and his technical team, as the league hosts festivals across the country that are often broadcast. 'So again, we need to put more focus on development because that's what can take our football somewhere,' Mdaka said. 'We need to salute our DDC because it made it easy for us to be able to see players every weekend, going to different (venues). The country is also big, so if it wasn't for the DDC, we wouldn't see them. It was easier to follow up through the DDC. So, we salute them and say they've done a good job.' Mdaka admitted that they had to be at their best to reach the final and win it, with all their knockout-stage victories coming by narrow margins, including the final. 🏅 𝕄𝔸ℕ 𝕆𝔽 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕄𝔸𝕋ℂℍ 🏅 Amajita goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe! 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 🇿🇦 1⃣➖0⃣ 🇲🇦 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨 🚨 LIVE 🥇 Final 📺 SABC 2 📱 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 18, 2025 'We always stick to what we know best, and make sure that we don't concede. Mostly, if you don't concede in a tournament, chances are you get one goal and win the game,' he added. Amajita's ascension wasn't easy, as they lost their opening game to hosts Egypt before finishing top of Group A and defeating DRC, Nigeria and Morocco to win the crown. All three knockout stage wins came via 1–0 scorelines, and Mdaka has lauded his team's defensive prowess. Fletcher Smythe-Lowe kept four clean sheets and provided an assist for Kekana's goal in the final, and was duly crowned Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Speaking to CAF TV after being named Player of the Match following the final, Smythe-Lowe reflected on what the win meant for him. 'It means a lot to not only me but the team. This award goes to the rest of the team. With only me and without them, we'd be nowhere. Together we are stronger,' Smythe-Lowe said.
Ya Biladi
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
South Africa edges Morocco 1-0 in AFCON U20 Final : Lion Cubs secure World Cup spot
South Africa's under-20 team defeated Morocco 1–0 on Sunday evening in Cairo, in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON U20), which concluded on May 18 in Egypt. The result was a reversal of the 1997 final, when the Atlas Lion Cubs beat South Africa to claim their first continental title in the category. The only goal of this year's final came from Gomolemo Kekana in the 70th minute. Despite the loss, Mohamed Ouahbi's squad delivered a solid performance, showing cohesive team play and creating several chances—though none found the back of the net. The Lion Cubs' impressive campaign began with a 3–2 win over Kenya, followed by victories against Tunisia (3–1) and Sierra Leone (1–0), before a standout semi-final performance against host nation Egypt (1–0). By reaching the final four, Morocco also secured qualification for the upcoming U20 World Cup, set to take place in Chile.
eNCA
19-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Amajita lift maiden U20 AFCON crown
JOHANNESBURG - The South Africa Under-20 men's team, Amajita, have been crowned the champions of Africa. They took the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in Egypt. South Africa faced Morocco in the final after they defeated Nigeria in the last-four. Raymond Mdaka's side continued their display of clinical defending, finding the back of the net in the 70th minute, for a 1-0 win. Gomolemo Kekana's goal proved decisive, although it needed a VAR confirmation, after his strike was initially ruled out for offside. It's South Africa's first title in this competition, after reaching the final for the second time.
