1 November 2018 — South Africa’s national Under-20 (Amajita) head coach Thabo Senong says he and his charges would need to take every game seriously if they are to stand a chance of defending their COSAFA Under-20 Men’s Championship title in this year’s edition.

Senong was speaking in light of their group opponents following the tournament’s draw which was conducted in Kitwe, Zambia on Wednesday.

Amajita are in Group B, and will lock horns with Namibia, Mauritius and Swaziland, sides who failed to survive their respective groups in last year’s COSAFA Under-20 Men’s Championship.

Senong though warned that previous form will not play any part in this upcoming one, adding that there is no side which goes into a tournament with the intentions of losing it.

The COSAFA Under-20 Men’s Championship will run from 2 — 14 December 2018.

“Our intention is to approach this tournament very professionally,” Senong said. “We cannot afford to underestimate any sides because they could have worked really hard to improve their respective play from last year. We know for a fact that both Mauritius and Namibia are very aggressive sides and tough to play against. Swaziland as well, are also stricky. We just need prepare well and make sure that we do well when the tournament kicks off in December.”

Amajita will report for camp on 20 November 2018 where Senong, and his technical staff, will assess the players before deciding on the final travelling squad for Kitwe.

Senong also added thay they will use this year’s southern regional football tournament as part of their preparations for next year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations set to take place in Niger from 2 –17 February 2019.

Top four finishers in that biennial continental showpiece will automatically qualify for next year’s FIFA Under-20 Men’s World Cup set to take place in Poland from

23 May — 15 June 2019.

COSAFA Under-20 Men’s Championship Groups

GROUP A

Zambia

Malawi

Reunion

Mozambique

GROUP B

South Africa

Namibia

Mauritius

Swaziland

GROUP C

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

Angola

Botswana

SOURCED FROM THE SAFA WEBSITE.