Kodisang predicts strong Amajita showing at World Cup

South Africa winger Kobamelo Kodisang is confident the side can overcome the odds and get their 2019 Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign off to a positive start when they tackle Argentina on Saturday.

Amajita are appearing in a second successive World Cup in this age-group and are up against it with Portugal and South Korea also in their pool.

But Kodisang, who was on loan in the Portuguese third-tier from BidVest Wits this season, says they have nothing to fear.

"I think we will do well. We have to be confident, we know it won't be easy but we are here to compete. If we can be confident enough, we can do well in all the matches," he says.

Kodisang was also part of the Amajita side that campaigned in South Korea two years ago, and has also played at the Under-17 World Cup, making it a rare feat for a South African to appear in as many global tournaments.

"I'm very pleased because there's many players we left behind who didn't make it to the final squad, so it's quite an honour for me and I would like to make everyone proud, especially myself," he said.

"I never thought I would ever play in three junior World Cups until I joined the Platinum Stars academy, which changed everything."

After Argentina, Amajita tackle South Korea on 28 May, and then Portugal three days later. The top two teams in each pool advance to the second round along with the four best third-placed finishers.

Amajita have reached the knockout stages of the Under-20 World Cup once before, but lost to eventual winners Ghana in 2009.