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Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is not happy with the way football’s world governing body, FIFA, is treating the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
He says it’s unacceptable and a show of disrespect that overseas-based clubs are only forced to release their AFCON bound players on the 15th of this month.
There’s a mere six days before the start of the tournament in Morocco.
Only 21 players have reported for Bafana Bafana’s final training at the High-Performance Centre in Pretoria.
The team assembled on Monday with four overseas based players; Lyle Foster, Sphephelo Sithole, Shandre Campbell, and Siyabonga Ngezana, not in attendance.
They are only expected to join their teammates next week, and Broos did not mince his words.
“Saying players who are playing abroad cannot join their national teams until the 15th, I wonder what the situation with teams like Morocco, Senegal and Nigeria who only have overseas based players in their set up. I don’t know what FIFA thinks about this competition.”
The camp at the HPC started with only 12 players.
Orlando Pirates players were given extra time off to recharge their batteries after playing in the Carling Knockout final in Polokwane on Saturday.
Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was the last to arrive after he missed his flight from Durban.
And he can expect a tongue lashing from the Belgian.
Broos says, “Mbokazi will arrive in fifteen minutes I still want to talk to him I’m not pleased with what he did, he missed his flight in Durban. The Pirates coach is angry that he missed his flight. That is very unprofessional, and, in the past, I have told you about the behaviour of South African players. This is very bad for a 19-year-old player who is going to the AFCON and the World Cup to miss his flight. That I can’t accept, I know why he thinks he’s a star. I’m very angry, and angry with his attitude.”
One overseas-based player who’s already in camp and making the most of it, is 20-year-old Amajita defender Tylon Smith.
His English club, Queens Park Rangers, released him early.
One development that put a smile on Broos’ face was the confirmation of the warm-up match against Ghana next Tuesday.
The match will be played at an unconfirmed venue in Gauteng.
Bafana Bafana will depart for Morocco the following day.
