Kaizer Chiefs’ young midfielder Wiseman Meyiwa has regarded Amajita’s participation in the U20 World Cup as a ‘great experience’, despite not making it past the group stages.

The 17-year-old admits that he was disappointed that Amajita were unable to get past the group stage of the U20 World Cup.

“The other teams played at a very high tempo and they are also tactically very mature in the sense of how the team is organised on the pitch,” Meyiwa told the Kaizer Chiefs website.

The South African national team were drawn in a tough group which included Japan, Italy and Uruguay and finished the group stages with one point out of three matches.

Despite their 2-0 defeat against Italy in the second group stage match, Italy coach Alberigo Evani was full of price for the Chiefs midfielder.

“South Africa’s number 6 (Meyiwa) might play at some stage in Europa. He was our great worry and it was our tactic to block him from getting the ball and, instead, the defenders had to bring up the ball and they were not so skillful,” Evani said.

Meanwhile, former Amakhosi midfielder Wellington Akalahlwa believes that Meyiwa has the ability to succeed on both domestic and national level if he continues to grow as a player.

“I love the way Wiseman distributes the ball with his excellent passing abilities,” Manyathi added.

“He has the talent to succeed, although I would advise him to get some individual training – for example, to improve on his weaker foot or shifting the play a bit more from the one to the other wing.”

“He has the talent to succeed, although I would advise him to get some individual training – for example, to improve on his weaker foot or shifting the play a bit more from the one to the other wing.”

Meyiwa, who played in the U17 World Cup two years ago, insists that admits that his side lacked composure in the final third, but admits that it was a good experience for him and his teammates.

“This was already the second World Cup I played at,” the young midfielder concluded.

“It was sad that again we failed to reach the knockout stage. Our main problem was not converting the chances we got, that cost us. It was, however, a great experience. You learn the most when playing against the best and at a World Cup one plays against the best.”

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix