Former captain of the South African Men’s u17 National Team, Amajimbos, Nelson Maluleke, has been called up to the provisional u20 Men’s National Team, Amajita.

Former captain of the South African Men’s u17 National Team, Amajimbos, Nelson Maluleke, has been called up to the provisional u20 Men’s National Team, Amajita.

The midfielder is excited at the prospects of graduating to the team and bringing some of his World Cup experience to the squad.

Maluleke led the Amajimbos at the FIFA u17 World Cup Chile 2015.

He is now part of the provisional 35-man Amajita squad that is preparing for the second round first leg CAF u20 African Youth Championships qualifier against Namibia.

The clash takes place on Saturday, 21 May at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

SAFA Media spoke Maluleke about life after the U17 FIFA World Cup and about the new national team setup.

SAFA Media: Nelson, thank you for your time. It has been a while since you were in the national team, how have you been?

NM: Yes it has been a while and I have missed being in the national team. I have been doing very well actually to such an extent that I believe I have grown as a footballer.

Since the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile last year, what have you been up too?

I have been at the Supersport Academy continuing with my football. We have participated in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, the BayHill Tournament as well as our u19 league. I also went to Holland for trials where I really learnt a lot.

You are in camp with the national U20 squad. How are you finding it here? is it different from Amajimbos?

I am very happy to be here. Happy to see some of my former Amajimbos teammates and meeting other players in the new team. There are a few differences in the sense that the competitiveness is higher as we all want to make the final squad, however I feel at home having coach ( Molefi) Ntseki (Amajimbos head coach) around.

This is still a selection camp, what are you looking forward to if you make the team to face Namibia next week?

First of all I am fighting hard just like any other player to make sure I make it to the required 20-man squad that will be selected to face Namibia. The coaches keep telling us not to relax, pushing us hard to do our best. I am confident that the experience I gained from the u17 AFCON and u17 World Cup will help me. I really want to be part of the u20 team going forward.

NB: Amajita leave for Namibia on Thursday, 19 May. The winner in the two-legged affair will play either Mozambique or Lesotho for the final ticket to Zambia, which will host the AYC from February to March 2017.