Slam Kat questions Bafan selection

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has withdrawn from the national side for the World Cup qualifiers in June.

Josephs is known to be unhappy at having to sit on the bench for Bafana Bafana, with Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune ahead of him in the pecking order.

The player has decided that unless he is guaranteed the number one role, he will not be part of the set-up, spending time away from home.  

“Josephs is one of the 30 players called up for national duty, but in a letter written to team management and the technical team through his representatives, the goal minder said he will be not be able to honour any this national team call up or any in future due to personal reasons,” a SAFA statement said on Tuesday.

“In the letter he requests to have a meeting with head coach Pitso Mosimane and the team manager to explain his reasons.

“Mosimane has asked the player to pen a letter himself to explain the situation, before meeting him. The technical team is expected to make a decision on the way forward once they have received the letter from Josephs.”

Meanwhile, Bafana may also have to do without Santos striker Eleazar Rodgers, whose club have requested he be released from duty to prepare for the Absa Premiership promotion/relegation play-offs that start this week and run until the end of June.

Bafana Bafana will face Ethiopia and Botswana in the qualifiers on Sunday, 3 June at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg and Saturday, 9 June in Botswana respectively. Kickoff for both matches is 15h00.

In the third match South Africa will face Gabon on Friday, 15 June in Gauteng at a venue still to be determined.

Meanwhile nineteen players have reported for national team duty and are already at the Royal Marang Sports Complex in Phokeng.

Five overseas-based players already in camp are defenders Anele Ngcongca, Bongani Khumalo and Tsepo Masilela, goalkeeper Darren Keet and midfielder Thulani Serero.

Also checking in on the first day was the Kaizer Chiefs quartet of Siphiwe Tshabalala, Siboniso Gaxa, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Itumeleng Khune; the Orlando Pirates quartet of Siyabonga Sangweni, Oupa Manyisa, Tokelo Rantie and Andile Jali; Moroka Swallows duo of Siyabonga Nomvethe and Luvhengo Mungomeni; Amazulu’s Thamsanqa Sangweni as well as Thanduyise Khuboni and Mzikayise Mashaba from Lamontville Golden Arrows and Free State Stars respectively.

Three more players are expected later on Tuesday – captain Steven Pienaar, Eric Mathoho and Lehlohonolo Masalesa, while May Mahlangu will only report for camp on Thursday, 25 May.

Three players have been given a rest after reporting for camp with niggling injuries.

Nomvethe (ankle and tight hamstring), Siyabonga Sangweni (ankle) and Manyisa (tight calf muscles) will all miss the first day of training as they go under medical observation.

 

The six players from Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United – Teko Modise, Wayne Sandilands, Punch Masenamela, Lebohang Mokoena, Katlego Mphela and Morgan Gould – are scheduled to arrive on Sunday, 27 May, a day after their Nedbank Cup final clash at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.