Kaizer Chiefs rising star Mfundo Vilakazi silenced his doubters over the weekend with two goals in two matches as Amajita collected back-to-back victories against Lesotho.
On the back of a wave of criticism that followed what some former footballers of a display of 'showboating' during Amakhosi's 4-0 defeat to Tanzanian giants Young Africans in the Toyota Cup, a resilient Vilakazi bluntly told journalists that soon he doubters would have to praise him when speaking to media on Thursday.
"The league will start and when I score, the very same people who are criticising me will be saying 'Hey Mfundo this and Mfundo that, you must go play overseas', when they have forgotten that they were ones who were criticising me when I did a skill against Yanga,'' the teenager said when asked if the criticism had affected his focus.
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Proving to me a man of his word and not waiting for the league to start, Vilakazi opened the scoring in a 3-1 victory over Lesotho played on Friday in Maseru, Lesotho, alongside Kutlwano Lethlaku and Shakeel April.
It was more of the same when the team met again on Sunday, as Vilakazi scored alongside Duane Bennet, Langelihle Phili, Shakeel April to record an impressive 4-0 win. The two matches will serve as preparation for the 2024 COSAFA U20 Championships scheduled for September.
In addition to Vilakazi, four more players in the Amajita team had been picked from Chiefs. These were Takalani Mazhamba, Sifiso Timba, Mpho Khathana, and Ofentse Kgosana.
Meanwhile, South Africa's U17s also collected back-to-back wins from their respective friendly matches against Lesotho. The first match was played on Friday at UJ Soweto campus and ended 4-0 with goals coming from Sive Pama, Selwyn Steven, Teboho Mlangeni and Anovuyo Mgoqi.
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The second match ended 3-1 thanks to goals from Neo Bohloko, Lebo Dhlamini and Emile Witbooi. The Vela Khumalo-led team is preparing for the upcoming COSAFA U17 Championships.
Vilakazi will now turn his attention back to club football where Amakhosi are putting in the preparations for the new season. The 19-year-old will be aiming to add more appearances this season than the 7 seven he managed in the 23/24 campaign at Chiefs.