2015 SAFA u.17 Boys National Champs: Bulk of SA players in action.

MAMELODI Sundowns has been crowned as the 2015 SAFA u.17 boys national champions after defeating defending champions, Bidvest Wits 1-0 at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Sunday, July 12.

The match looked to be heading for a draw before Keabetswe Mokwena scored a goal, with just one minute of regulation time left on the clock, following a neat move from the young Brazilians.

The goal was enough to hand Sundowns the victory and the title of national champions. Mokwena ended the tournament with seven goals to his name and walked away with both the top goalscorer of the tournament and player of the tournament awards.

Daniel Meyer of Wits, was named the goalkeeper of the tournament. Wits won the first tournament last year at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto.

The 2014 tournament produced the bulk of Amajimbos, the current men’s u.17 national team, who will be playing in the u.17 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Chile later this year.

40 players who took part in this year’s national championships were selected for a training camp where they will get a chance to play against Amajimbos on a yet to be determined date. This match will increase the pool of the national team and also give the national coaching staff more players to choose from.

Gauteng finished third in the 2015 tournament after beating Limpopo 2-1 in the bronze medal battle on Friday, July 10, at the Nike Centre.

Individual Awards:

Keabetswe Mokwena (Sundowns) Player of the tournament

Keabetswe Mokwena (Sundowns) Top goal scorer of the tournament

Daniel Meyer (Bidvest Wits) Goalkeeper of the tournament

Charles Yohane (Bidvest Wits) Coach of the tournament

Linda Mojafi (North West) Assistant referee of the tournament

Moreki Lekwape (Gauteng) Referee of the tournament