Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has delivered a heartfelt message to South Africa's Under-20 squad, who returned to a hero's welcome after winning the U-20 AFCON in Egypt.
Amajita, as they are fondly known, were welcomed by fans, friends, and family at OR Tambo International Airport after clinching the continental title via a 1-0 win over Morocco in the final on Sunday.
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It was the first time in 28 years that they had won the tournament and presented a major shift in the footballing powers on the continent.
Hugo Broos, who led Bafana Bafana to a third-place finish at the 2024 AFCON and has already qualified for the upcoming 2025 AFCON, was present at OR Tambo and had a message to share with the rising stars.
"Everything starts now for you; you are at a crossroads. If you take the right direction, I’ll see you back next year in Bafana Bafana in big stadiums here in South Africa," he said.
"You‘ve got every opportunity to have a nice life for the next 10, 12 years as a professional football player and believe me, it’s the nicest profession you can imagine.
"But you still have to work very hard in the next months. I hope you guys take the right lifestyle, this is very important to achieve," he concluded.
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The Belgian mentor confirmed in March that he intended to give young players an opportunity in the senior national team Bafana Bafana's upcoming friendly matches in June.
This list includes Orlando Pirates' Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who was part of the Amajita squad that lifted the 2024 COSAFA Cup earlier this year.
