Source: @African Music Library
The South African Football Association has formalised Jabu Hlongwane’s appointment as the new U23 team manager, adding an administrative figure to Raymond Mdaka’s national setup as South Africa move closer to their first Olympic qualifying assignment.
Hlongwane serves as Provincial Executive Officer for SAFA Mpumalanga and has been assigned to the U23 squad during its current camp. His remit covers coordination between the technical staff, support personnel and relevant SAFA departments, giving the team a dedicated link between its football operations and the wider association.
The appointment comes at a useful point for Mdaka’s side. South Africa are using the Algeria friendlies to assess a largely young group, with several players drawn from the previous U20 setup. The first meeting produced a 3-1 comeback victory at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Thursday, after Algeria had taken the lead late in the first half.
The second fixture was scheduled for Sunday, 4 October, at the same venue, giving Mdaka another competitive test before the qualifiers begin.
Hlongwane joins a campaign with little room for error
For an U23 team manager, the work extends well beyond matchday administration. International youth football requires constant coordination around player releases, travel, documentation, training camps and communication between different departments. Those details can become decisive when a national side is operating across a lengthy qualification programme.
SAFA’s decision to formalise Hlongwane’s role during the current camp therefore gives Mdaka’s technical staff a dedicated administrative presence while the squad moves from preparation into competition.
The footballing demands will soon become more pressing. CAF’s U23 qualifying draw has already established the route towards the 2027 tournament in Egypt, with 42 nations competing for seven places alongside the hosts. The qualification process consists of three rounds of home-and-away ties, with the final round scheduled for March 2027.
South Africa have also been handed a more immediate assignment. Madagascar advanced after Comoros withdrew, leaving the two sides due to meet over two legs in November for a place in the next stage.
That gives the Algeria camp a practical purpose beyond experimentation. Mdaka needs to use these matches to refine his squad, while the broader team structure must be ready for the demands of knockout football.
The Olympic stakes are substantial. Egypt will host the eight-team U23 Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, with seven qualifiers joining the automatically qualified hosts. The tournament doubles as Africa’s qualification competition for the men’s football tournament at Los Angeles 2028, with two Olympic places available to the continent.
For South Africa, every part of the operation now has to pull its weight. The technical staff need to develop a competitive side, the players need to translate domestic form onto the international stage, and the administrative structure has to keep the campaign moving without unnecessary disruption.
