Gomolemo Kekana confident in Amajita pursuit of U20 World Cup spot

The Mamelodi Sundowns pivot, who is one of three players in the squad that played at the 2023 CAF U17 AFCON, knows their progression to the knockout stages and securing qualification to the FIFA U20 World Cup will require a strong resurgence.

Coming up against Tanzania this evening, the 18-year-old stressed the need to turn their possessional dominance into scoring opportunities by taking more shots at goal, if they are to register their first points in Group A.

"We really need that early goal, but football is football – anything could happen, but I think just the mentality we have and positive energy in the group, even if the game drags, we just have to keep the energy and the goals will eventually come," Kekana told SABC Sport.

"I think in my game it's key because we might have all the possession, but I think I also have to take more shots on goal because I have the ability to do so.

"So I think taking more shots and getting goals for my team [is important] – and that goes for the whole team, we have to also take shots on goal because we find ourselves in and around the box a lot.

"I think we have to take shots at goal and we'll eventually score, [because] we do have the quality to score from outside the box, but we must take shots."

With captain Asekho Tiwani having returned home through injury, Kekana knows he now has to assume some of the leadership responsibility alongside vice-captain Patrick Autata.

"I think i's Patrick [who will be captain] – if he's on the pitch, he's our captain. I'm the third captain – it was Asekho, Patrick and then me," he defended.

"I think yes, [Tiwani] is an important figure in our team, but I think with the quality we have, we just have to focus on our game and give our best – and we wish him a speedy recovery."

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