Safa must invest in Raymond Mdaka to safeguard South Africa’s U23 golden generation

The South African U-23 team, arguably at its strongest since the 2000 Olympic class, showcased composure, precision, and chemistry in a 3-1 friendly victory against Tanzania. Assistant coach Kabelo Mogudi credits the team's success to hard work and sacrifice, as many players have grown from the U20 side, Amajita, which recently dominated the COSAFA and African stages and earned a World Cup berth.

Despite hardships during AFCON preparation, such as inadequate accommodations, the team persevered and won the Africa Youth Championship for the first time, securing their World Cup qualification and paving the way for higher promotions. Now, the U-23s aim to finish in the top two at the upcoming AFCON in Egypt, paving the way for their first appearance in the Los Angeles Olympics since 2020.

However, head coach Raymond Mdaka, who oversees both the U20 and U23 teams, faces underpayment from SAFA. While his U20 counterpart, Hugo Broos, earns a substantial R1.4 million monthly salary, Mdaka has reportedly received under R50,000 on a month-to-month basis. SAFA must address this disparity to demonstrate its commitment to building a sustainable pathway from the junior ranks to the national team.