Ban drama motivated Josephs

2006-01-09 21:43

Schalk Jonker

Cape Town - The recent drama in which Moeneeb Josephs was again suspended for six months after testing positive for a banned substance, has motivated him even more to be included in the South African soccer squad to play in the African Nations Cup later this month.

"The entire debacle has made me stronger and more determined to wear the Bafana Bafana jersey again," the Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper said after he was included in the final squad.

South Africa leave for Egypt on Thursday and play their first match against Guinea in Alexandria on January 22.

Josephs was suspended in December last year for six months after he tested positive for the second time for using salbutamol.

He successfully appealed against a similar suspension because it was found it formed part of his asthma medication.

The South African Football Association officially pardoned him after his appeal.

Following his second suspension, Josephs followed the same process and the ruling again was that the positive test could not be held against him.

If he had been found guilty, he would have been suspended from Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru's squad, but Josephs said he was overjoyed because he had been included in the squad leaving for Egypt.

Josephs said:" This is my Christmas present. It is a big honour to be back in the national team and I want to make the best of this opportunity.

"It's any player's dream to play for Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup tournament. Luckily for me the dream has become a reality."

Josephs, who last represented South Africa in a qualifying match for the World Cup tournament against Ghana in June 2004, said the controversy surrounding the withdrawal of former captain Aaron Mokoena did not affect team spirit.

"It's something that happened between the coach and Mokoena. I try not to be influenced by it.

"The players are continuing preparations because we can't afford something like that to interfere with our focus," Josephs said.

- Die Burger