Teenage midfield sensation from Noordwyk to represent SA at the CAF U20 AFCON
Lazola Maku said he hopes to win the Midfielder of the Tournament Award, while qualifying for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Noordwyk football star Lazola Maku is pleased to be representing the country in the upcoming Confederations of African Football (CAF) U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
At the tender age of 17, Lazola does not believe the age difference will hinder his ambitions to win the midfielder of the Tournament Award.
The continental showpiece, scheduled from April 26 to May 18, will now take place in Egypt, after the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d’Ivoire, announced its withdrawal as tournament hosts.
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The Grade 12 learner, from the Noordwyk Secondary School, says he will be able to juggle his academic work along with being away with national duty. When asked how, he said: “So far matric has been enjoyable, because it’s my last year of school. It’s about balancing the two. I am a dedicated learner.”
Currently, the Supersport United Academy midfielder, who plays as both an attacker and a defensive midfielder, says it’s a privilege to represent his country at such a young age. “My more dominant style of play is to control the tempo of the game, and with the help the team, to win games. As a player, it’s a privilege to play at such a tournament for my country. We have been together as a team for about a year and a half now, so, as a team, we just want to win the tournament, and qualify for the upcoming U20 World Cup. The age difference is not much of a concern, as long as we play well, and gel as a team, to get positive results.”
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The top four AFCON finishers automatically qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup to be held in Chile in September this year, and Lazola is optimistic that, with the quality of players, Amajita will qualify for the global competition.
Locally, Lazola looks up to Sphesihle Ndlovu, a Supersport United midfielder and defender because of how he always motivates other players during the game. He said internationally, he loves watching reining Ballond d’Or winner and Manchester City’s star midfielder Rodrigo Hernandes Cascante, popularly known as Rodri.
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