Bafana 'sabotaged' by PSL
2007-09-19 22:27
Johannesburg - With friends like the PSL, it was evident on Wednesday that Safa and Bafana Bafana have no need for enemies.
In an astonishing development demonstrating a lack of communication, co-operation and mutual understanding between what are ostensibly the two major soccer organisations in South Africa, the PSL announced a programme of Telkom Knockout games for next weekend which effectively sabotages the Cosafa Cup semi-final between Bafana and Botswana at the Super Stadium.
Not only have the PSL earmarked the crowd-pulling Kaizer Chiefs-Moroka Swallows Telkom Knockout game on the Super Stadium's doorstep at Loftus for the same day, but they have also devised a programme of fixtures whereby an already makeshift Bafana squad could be deprived of 11 of their 21 players.
If the PSL now persist with their ill-advised programme, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Mokete Tsotetsi, Jimmy Tau and Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Clayton Jagers, Brett Evans, Bryce Moon and Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town), Tumelo Nhlapo and Lebohang Mothibantwa (Bloemfontein Celtic) and Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows) will all be required by their clubs for Telkom Knockout fixtures - and because the Cosafa Cup is not an official Fifa tournament, become unavailable to play for Bafana over the same weekend.
Overdue postponed game
Safa had already agreed to a PSL request and not selected players from Premier League champions Mamelodi Sundowns because they were involved in an overdue postponed game - with overseas-based players also not available in this instance for the badly depleted South African squad.
"We have negotiated with the PSL over a lengthy period over this tricky fixture issue," said Bafana general manager Sipho Nkumane shortly after the announcement of the squad to play Botswana, "and were given the assurance by the League's general manager, Andrew Dipela, that there would be total co-operation in the fixturing of games over the final weekend of the month.
"What they have done instead," said the Bafana general manager, "is seemingly placed every conceivable obstacle in our path in attempting to select a worthwhile squad, not only by decreeing that Chiefs, Ajax, Bloemfontein Celtic and Swallows all have games, but by detracting from the Cosafa Cup generally through their decision to play Swallows and Chiefs as a counter-attraction."
And in the midst of a scenario not unbefitting of the Mad Hatter's exploits in Alice-in-Wonderland, Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira inserted an element of sanity.
"It is not too late to sort out this mess," said Parreira. "If everyone concerned is prepared to act in the interests of South African soccer, I am sure we can find a solution.
Bafana squad
Meanwhile, the makeshift squad selected by Parreira to play Botswana - at the moment seemingly set to be depleted by 11 further withdrawals - is:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs) and Moeneeb Josephs (Wits University).
Defenders: Jimmy Tau (Kaizer Chiefs), Tumelo Nhlapo (Bloemfontein Celtic), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Ashraf Hendricks (Wits University), Clayton Jagers (Ajax Cape Town), Mokete Tsotetsi (Kaizer Chiefs), Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town).
Midfielders: Papi Zothwane (Golden Arrows), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town), Bhamuza Sono (Jomo Cosmos), Lebohang Mothibantwa (Bloemfontein Celtic), Lebohang Mokoena (Orlando Pirates) Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Bennet Chenene (Orlando Pirates), Thando Mngomeni (Santos).
Strikers: Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town), Norman Smith (Golden arrows).
- SAPA