See What SA Coach Just Said About Him & Chiefs Star Mfundo Vilakazi

BOMBSHELL: RAYMOND MDAKA TAKES AIM AT SHANDRE CAMPBELL AND OTHER ATTACKERS AFTER MADAGASCAR VICTORY

Soft headline: South Africa U23 coach demands teamwork from talented youngsters as Olympic qualification campaign gathers momentum

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — 15 November 2026

South Africa Under-23 head coach Raymond Mdaka has raised concerns about individualism among some of his attacking players following Amaglug-glug’s narrow 1-0 victory over Madagascar in the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers.

Although the result gave South Africa an important advantage in the second-round qualifying encounter, Mdaka was not entirely satisfied with certain decisions made by his attacking players, particularly when opportunities arose to involve teammates in promising positions.

The match took place at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, 14 November, with Madagascar officially regarded as the home team despite the fixture being staged in South Africa.

Substitute Quwan Plaatjies proved to be the difference between the two sides, scoring the decisive goal in the 74th minute after connecting with a delivery from captain Neo Rapoo.

However, the performance also exposed areas that Mdaka believes require immediate attention as his young squad continues its journey towards the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

One of the players who came under scrutiny was talented winger Shandre Campbell, who was criticised for occasionally attempting to create opportunities individually instead of releasing the ball to teammates in better positions.

Mdaka explained that talented footballers sometimes attempt complicated actions when a simpler decision could benefit the entire team.

The coach made it clear that this is an issue the technical team has been addressing through regular discussions, team-building exercises and educational presentations.

“We do a lot of team building. We do a lot of presentation for them to understand the importance of playing as a team and getting a goal,” Mdaka explained.

He also emphasised that scoring goals must remain the priority rather than individual brilliance that does not necessarily contribute positively to the team’s objectives.

Interestingly, Mdaka referenced Mfundo Vilakazi, explaining that the youngster previously displayed similar tendencies but has improved significantly in making decisions on the pitch.

The coach believes individual creativity should never be discouraged completely, provided it produces positive outcomes for the team.

Meanwhile, South Africa cannot afford to become complacent despite securing the first-leg victory.

Madagascar will have another opportunity when the teams meet again at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday, 18 November.

With Olympic qualification at stake, Mdaka will expect his attackers to demonstrate greater discipline, improved decision-making and, most importantly, a stronger understanding of collective responsibility.

For Amaglug-glug, individual talent could be valuable, but teamwork might ultimately determine how far this promising generation goes.

Source https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2121996652907245969

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