Posted in News, Youth Academy on Jun 05, 2017.
The 17-year-old midfielder is obviously disappointed that South Africa’s Under-20s were unable to get past the group stage at the U-20 World Cup.
However, he does stress having learnt a lot: “The other teams played at a very high tempo and they are also tactically very mature in the sense of how the team is organised on the pitch.”
Amajita were drawn in a tough group with Japan, Italy and Uruguay, getting one point out of three matches (a goalless draw against Uruguay in the last group game).
Italy and Uruguay have now reached the semi-finals of U-20 World Cup, which again shows the quality of South Africa’s opponents.
Amajita lost 2-0 to Italy, but their coach, Alberigo Evani, had afterwards some nice words about the Chiefs midfielder: “South Africa’s number 6 (Meyiwa) might play at some stage in Europa. He was our great worry and it was our tactic to block him from getting the ball and, instead, the defenders had to bring up the ball and they were not so skilful.”
“I love the way Wiseman distributes the ball with his excellent passing abilities,” Amakhosi’s former midfielder Wellington ‘Umuntu Akalahlwa’ Manyathi adds. “He has the talent to succeed, although I would advise him to get some individual training – for example, to improve on his weaker foot or shifting the play a bit more from the one to the other wing.”
Two years ago, Meyiwa played as well for South Africa at the U-17 World Cup.
“This was already the second World Cup I played at,” the young midfielder concludes. “It was sad that again we failed to reach the knockout stage. Our main problem was not converting the chances we got, that cost us. It was, however, a great experience. You learn the most when playing against the best and at a World Cup one plays against the best.”