South Africa head coach Molefi Ntseki has expressed his displeasure over the European club’s decision not to release players for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.
The final two rounds of the qualifiers will see most of the African countries playing without players who ply their trade in Europe due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The world’s football governing body (FIFA) earlier ruled that clubs do not release their players for international duty if they face quarantine on their return.
This has had an impact on almost all of the 48 countries involved in the qualifiers as the race for places at next year’s tournament heads to a conclusion.
A chunk of African countries mostly depends on players based in Europe but the Covid-19 restrictions have disrupted their plans.
The Bafana Bafana play host to Ghana in the fifth round of the qualifiers at the FNB Stadium at 4 pm, a game that could determine the qualification of both countries.
Despite Brighton and Hove Albion releasing Percy Tau for the international duty, Siyanda Xulu, Dean Furman, Keagan Dolly and Thulani Serero will miss the qualifiers since their respective clubs refused to make them available.
According to the coach, the attitude of not wanting to release players for international duty, even though the times they play in are unprecedented, goes against the spirit of the game.
“I’m very disappointed because we always look at football as a global sport, a game of billions and we always try to make friends regardless of where we play. The circular that was sent to clubs to say to have the right to refuse players the right to travel for the qualifiers is a sad story”
“When I spoke to all the European based players, for them to be told they can’t come and play for us because of quarantine issues and losing starting player, it wasn’t well for them”
“When you look at Dean Furman, he’s been a key player. Bongani Zungu was in our last camp and he did very well, the attitude was good and he was looking forward to being part of this group and helping the team to qualify. We haven’t play Serero in a while because of injury. Dolly was in tears because he wanted to play”
“It’s unfortunate that we have to fight for these players because they play in top-quality leagues and their qualities are needed for the national teams,” he said.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Sylvester Ntim
