Mokoena: 'Diabolical injustice'
2006-01-09 20:40
Johannesburg - Deposed Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, who then elected to withdraw from the squad to play in the forthcoming African Nations Cup tournament in what has emerged an unsavoury controversy, was the victim of a "diabolical injustice."
This was the provocative view expressed on Monday by Stanley "Screamer" Tshabalala, himself eased out of the position of Bafana general manager on the eve of the Nations Cup tournament in Egypt.
"If any player did not deserve the cynical treatment meted out to him by acting coach Ted Dumitru," said the former Bafana general manager, "it was Aaron Mokoena.
"In all my years with Bafana I never came across a player who was more loyal and committed to the national team - and one who never caused problems of any kind.
"I would not go as far as to say he should have withdrawn from the South African squad, but you can be sure he had a very good reason for doing so. He was always ready to serve his country to the best of his ability as a talented player and a dedicated leader," added Tshabalala.
"As the new coach Dumitru had every right to change the captaincy and pave the way for Sibusiso Zuma to be appointed. But not in the questionable manner in which it was done - and with a lack of respect for one of South Africa's most revered players."
Surprise recall of Pierre Issa
The Mokoena debacle highlights a sequence of bizarre events since Dumitru stepped into the Bafana coaching post following the resignation of Stuart Baxter - notable of which was the surprise recall of Pierre Issa on the basis that he was in scintillating form in Greece and could not be left out.
It was later revealed that Issa had been out of soccer for several months because of a contractual dispute and had not kicked a ball in an official game all season.
Variable squad selections have also raised eyebrows, with players selected in one instance and then relegated the next as though part of a game of snakes-and-ladders.
And now out of the squad for Egypt, with the Romanian-born coach having put his head on a block, are experienced players of the stature of Mokoena, Nasief Morris and Delron Buckley - added to Shaun Bartlett and Hans Vonk's retirement from international soccer and Steven Pienaar dropping out though injury.
- SAPA