08/09/2026
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Ernst Middendorp has questioned whether South Africa is truly finding its best U20 players or simply finding the best players within the areas and academies currently being scouted.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach says South Africa has talent everywhere, but believes the national youth-team scouting network needs to go much deeper.
His argument is that a player shouldn't have to reach a big academy before getting noticed.
If SAFA only discovers a player once he is already at Chiefs, Pirates, Sundowns, AmaZulu or another established club, someone else has already done the scouting.
Middendorp wants SAFA, its regions and Local Football Associations to build a nationwide talent-identification network capable of finding players before they become well known.
And he makes one thing clear:
β No provincial quotas.
β
Equal opportunity to be seen.
The question he leaves South African football with is a BIG one:
Are Amajita selecting the best U20 talent in the country β or just the best talent the current system has managed to find? ππΏπ¦