The Burger King-sponsored South African National U20 team (Amajita) have concluded their first phase of training camp with two productive matches played on Monday and Tuesday.

The Burger King-sponsored South African National U20 team (Amajita) have concluded their first phase of training camp with two productive matches played on Monday and Tuesday.

Amajita’s confidence levels will be sky-high when they face Zambia in their first international friendly of the year having hammered UJ 5-1 on Monday afternoon but lost 1-0 to Premier Soccer League side, Bidvest Wits on Tuesday morning.

The South Africans will return to camp next week Monday, 6 February 2017 and travel to Zambia for the friendly international match against the host. That match is now scheduled for 12 February at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

“I am very proud of the performance the players put up in both matches. Playing against UJ was helpful because the boys were tested under difficult conditions with yesterday’s rains, but they managed to fashion some brilliant goals.

Playing against Bidvest Wits was a bit tougher, they are more physical and of course much more experienced than us and we are extremely grateful for the friendly matches,’ said coach Thabo Senong.

“We have reached all of our targets for the week and will regroup next week for our second phase of preparations,” added Senong.

The 2017 CAF U20 African Cup of Nations will be held in Zambia from 26 February – 12 March 2017 in Lusaka and Ndola.

South Africa is in Group B, together with Cameroon, Senegal and Sudan while Group A consists of hosts Zambia, Egypt, Mali and Guinea.