Raymond Mdaka hails DDC impact on Amajita AFCON glory

Amajita became the first-ever South African junior national team to be crowned continental champions following a 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final played at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening.

The core of the team, including winning goal scorer Gomolemo Kekana, play in the DDC, and Mdaka says this league has played a significant role in their success.

"Back home, we used to have interviews and said a number of players you see are the players playing in the DDC, and most of them were promoted to their senior teams after our [COSAFA cup final] game in Mozambique," said Mdaka.

"That says a lot to the youth, that we seem to be getting there because that is the foundation of the senior national team, and adding to that, our U17 team has qualified [for FIFA U17 World Cup].

"It means we need to put more focus on the development again because that's what can take us somewhere in terms of our football, and I again salute the DDC because it made it easy for us to be able to see players week in and week out and following them.

"Because the country is so big, and if it wasn't for the DDC, we wouldn't be able to see them – you couldn't drive, perhaps, and make follow-ups on players, but through the DDC, we're able to do that and as much as we won it, they've done a good job for the country."

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