Gabriel Amato sets sights on Motsepe Foundation Championship title with Cape Town City

Cape Town City midfielder Gabriel Amato says his club will use last season’s second-place finish as motivation to challenge for the Motsepe Foundation Championship title, while he also aims to impress with the South African U23 side.

The 20-year-old is currently in camp with Raymond Mdaka’s squad as it prepares for two friendly matches against Algeria this week. The fixtures form part of the team’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers.

Amato was named the 2025/26 Motsepe Foundation Championship Young Player of The Season after a campaign in which he continued to develop in the National First Division.

“It’s nice to be playing first of all, I love playing football, I love playing football, so playing week in, week out is always fun,” Amato told journalists at Clapham High School in Queenswood.

“But NFD is a tough league, I do miss playing in the higher leagues but nonetheless, I am where I am, I can’t think about silly things.

“Now I’m here at Cape Town City, I just need to keep plugging away in the NFD and although sometimes it’s tough, it is just what I have to do at the end of the day.”

Amato believes the physical demands of the division have strengthened his game, particularly in matches played away from home.

“My game has improved in the physical aspect, because the NFD is a very physical league, there is not as much pretty football, especially away from home when it’s hot, the fans are on you all the time. So it can be tough,” he said.

His immediate focus is on making the most of his opportunity with the U23 team before returning to the challenge of improving his performances for Cape Town City.

“Obviously this camp is the first target of mine to play to my highest level, show the coaches what I can do and back at club level, keep trying to improve,” Amato said.

“I’ve got personal goals, goals, assists, I speak with someone who helps me. I just keep doing what I’m doing. I think if I keep doing what I’m doing, hopefully I’ll find a way forward in the future.”

Cape Town City finished second last season, and Amato says the club now wants to go one step further.

“Of course, even last season our goal was to win the league, we came second last season, so we want to take it one further, now push for the title,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy at all but it’s all we have to do and it’s what we can do.”

South African U23 will play their first friendly against Algeria on Thursday afternoon at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium.