Amidst the celebrations of South Africa’s title win at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, it has emerged that the man who masterminded that win is not well remunerated.
Amajita beat Morocco 1-0 in the final in Cairo, Egypt last weekend to win their first-ever AFCON title, avenging the 1997 loss suffered by South Africa to the very opponent.
That has seen coach Raymond Mdaka and his team showered with praise for bringing glory to the nation but it has now emerged that the tactician is on very low pay.
According to former SAFA technical director Walter Steenbok, Mdaka earns what he considers Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’ rent.
What does Amajita coach really earn?
“The respect for black professionals in our South African organisations is a big problem. My salary was cumulative to the rent paid for the head coach, Hugo Broos,” Steenbok told Metro FM as quoted by FARPost.
“On the FIFA organogram, the TD and the coach are on the same level, even with the same responsibilities. I want to go further, coach Mdaka does not earn more than R25,000 and is on a one-year contract.
“We fought for two years to get coach Raymond the contract. You can call the coach and ask him.”
Steenbok claims South African coaches are not respected well enough in the country, something that needs to change.
Ex-SAFA official slams lack of respect for locals
“So, what I’m trying to put up here is that the lack of respect for black professionals and the lack of respect for our own self, it’s unbelievable,” he went on.
“We don’t respect black excellence. We don’t respect black professionals. I can give you evidence I have in abundance that I keep all the time.”
Mdaka has been Amajita coach since March 2024 and guided South Africa to the 2024 COSAFA Cup win when they beat Zambia 2-0 in the final to claim the championship trophy without conceding a goal while scoring 16.
They are also set to feature at the 2025 U20 World Cup set to be staged in Chile in September.
