Emile Witbooi expected to lead Amajimbos into Under-17 World Cup against Japan today

Emily Witbooi will be a marked man when South Africa’s Under-17 side face Japan in the World Cup last-32 in Qatar this afternoon.

The Cape Town City talisman has been one standout players for Amajimbos in this prestigious tournament, scoring crucial goals and also creating.

His coach Vela Khumalo will be expecting that they have fewer injuries ahead of this match against the Japanese.

Khumalo has been a worried man all week about how his team suffered a lot of setback through injury.

“However, people don’t know that we don’t have defenders. It is injury after injury,” he told the Safa website.

“We keep on changing where we are supposed to keep on building; most of our players are injured, and we can’t play them.”

By reaching the last 3-2 stage, Amajimbos made history as it was for the first time a South African side in this age group reached this stage of the World Cup.

And earning a place in the last-16 by beating Japan will surely make them history makers.

The match starts at 4.30pm.