Steven Mendes targets Chiefs breakthrough after Amajita success

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Steven Mendes says the achievements of the previous Amajita squad have motivated the current South Africa Under-20 team to pursue success on the international stage and use it as a route into senior club football.

The previous generation included Mfundo Vilakazi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Shandre Campbell, Tylon Smith and Kutlwano Letlhaku. That group won the U20 Cosafa Cup, lifted the Africa Cup of Nations and secured qualification for the U20 FIFA World Cup.

Mendes, 18, is expected to play an important role in a revamped midfield alongside captain Lazola Maku, who was also part of the successful Amajita side. The new group will aim to match those achievements while defending the titles won by their predecessors.

“Yeah, obviously we saw last year what this team did for individuals, and I think everyone in this team is… they want the same to happen to them [earn first-team promotions],” Mendes told iDiski Times when asked whether the current squad viewed the national team as a springboard for their careers.

“So that pushes us a bit more, makes us work harder, makes us wanna win the tournaments, so we can get recognition and overall, I think it also helps us mentally – saying there is opportunities that comes from this.”

The midfielder returned to Kaizer Chiefs from Swedish club Hammarby Fotboll last year and has since become part of the club’s DStv Diski Challenge set-up.

His comments come as the latest Amajita squad prepares to follow the path established by the previous group, whose international success helped create opportunities for progression into first-team football.

Mendes said that prospect has provided an additional incentive for the players to work harder and compete for honours. Alongside the desire to win, he believes the possibility of earning recognition and securing opportunities has also strengthened the squad mentally.

The midfielder will now look to contribute to a side led by Maku as the team attempts to replicate the previous generation’s run across the U20 Cosafa Cup, Africa Cup of Nations and U20 FIFA World Cup.