Danny Jordaan backs Amajimbos to inspire next generation of South African stars

Vela Khumalo's young side secured their place in the round of 32 after finishing second in Group A with four points, behind group winners Italy.

They opened their campaign with a win over Bolivia, drew against hosts Qatar, and narrowly lost to Italy - results that confirmed their status among the tournament's most competitive teams.

Speaking after the group stage concluded on Tuesday, Jordaan said he was proud of the team's fighting spirit and technical quality, which he believes reflect the progress of youth development in South Africa.

"You can see that this team can play football. Even Arsène Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, said the same thing when he saw them in Morocco," said the SAFA president.

"The FIFA observers were also very impressed - they said the team plays with real quality and great understanding of the game."

Jordaan also pointed out the difference in player exposure between South Africa and traditional football nations but remains confident the experience in Qatar will inspire growth.

"When you look at Italy's U17s, many of their players are already competing in top leagues, while our young players are still trying to break through. That's an area we must improve - giving our talented youngsters more opportunities at senior level," he said.

Despite the challenges, Jordaan believes this Amajimbos squad has set a new benchmark for South African football.

"This team has learned valuable lessons and shown that they can compete with the best. Their success gives us hope for the future of our national teams."

Amajimbos will face Japan in the round of 32 on Saturday, with the winner set to meet either Venezuela or North Korea in the next round.