Amajimbos confident of win in Egypt

South Africa’s U17 National Team captain Nelson Maluleke has promised soccer fans that Amajimbos will return from Egypt with a win.

Molefi Ntseki’s team take on the Junior Pharaohs  at the Contractors Stadium on Saturday night hoping to wrap up another major qualification by a South African national team to a major tournament following into the footsteps of U20s and Banyana Banyana.

Maluleke, the attacking midfielder who plays his club soccer for Supersport United, said the boys were fired up and the spirit in the camp was sky high.

“We have trained hard and the boys are dreaming big; everyone in the camp cannot wait for Saturday evening when we play our Egyptian counterparts.  

“Our dream is to participate at the CAF African Youth championships in Niger so the 90 minutes on Saturday are crucial; they literally stand between us and that dream journey to Niger,” said Maluleke.

The pint-sized midfielder scored one of the goals in Amajimbos’ 2-1 victory in the first leg played at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium last Saturday but despite carrying a narrow advantage, Maluleke says that slender win will be good enough.

“They are playing at home and will be under pressure. We just need to frustrate them in the opening minutes of the game and the more the game goes on the more they will start to panic and that is when we should strike,” he smiled.

While admitting winning away from home won’t be easy, Maluleke said coach Ntseki had drilled his squad well and nothing short of a win in Cairo will be good enough.

“I know we just need a draw but that is not what we will go for on Saturday, mark my words,” he concluded.

Amajimbos leave for Egypt on Wednesday evening and are expected back home on Monday morning.