Late withdrawals hit Bafana

Coach Pitso bemoans attitude of clubs, write Kgomotso Mokoena and Bareng-Batho Kortjaas

BAFANA Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane is demanding that Safa and the PSL urgently resolve the club-versus-country conundrum.

The frustrated Mosimane expressed disappointment after his weakened squad's goalless draw against lowly Equatorial Guinea on Friday. Equatorial Guinea will co-host the 2012 African Nations Cup with Gabon from January 21 to February 12.

Mosimane deplored the disastrous depletion of his team ahead of the trip to Bata.

"I'm disappointment because there were withdrawals when we were supposed to leave," he lamented. "Some of the people did not tell us early. Everyone knew about this game before Christmas but you get withdrawals so late. Some players joined us in Malabo," Mosimane said.

Withdrawals robbed Mosimane of regular players after Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Lamontville Golden Arrows refused to release players, claiming they were tired.

"It is sad. Safa and the PSL need to talk about this and sort it out," he said.

Pirates refused to release Moeneeb Josephs, Siyabonga Sangweni, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali and Daine Klate. Sundowns pulled Wayne Sandilands, Punch Masenamela, Teko Modise, Themba Zwane and Katlego Mphela. Arrows withdrew Thanduyise Khuboni, Musa Bilankulu. Chiefs' Siphiwe Tshabalala went for trials at Crystal Palace.

"Where is the patriotism?" asked Mosimane.

"Is this the way to prepare for 2013? Is this the way to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers? There'll be a lot of criticism that the team is not doing well but how do you do well without personnel?"

Bafana begin their qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in June. South Africa are in group A with Botswana, Central African Republic and Ethiopia.

"We need proper personnel. I am not saying these boys are not good. Yes, they took their chance. As a coach I am a soldier and I will go to work. It was not a Fifa calendar date and I was not allowed to have the players but I want to thank the teams that felt that their players were not 'tired'.

"I also want to thank overseas teams for helping us out. Players like Siboniso Gaxa played until late December and were available."

Meanwhile, May Mahlangu - the talk of town after an excellent 2011 in which he won the player of the season in Sweden - earned his maiden Bafana cap.

"We had to give him the first cap because there were stories that he could have played for other people," says Mosimane in reference to rumours that Sweden were interested in wooing Mahlangu to switch nationalities.

"He hasn't played for two months since their league ended in November. He did exceptionally well even though he is not fully fit. He got more confident in the second half. He's a good prospect and I am happy that the pool of players for 2013 is increasing. But he knows he has to work extremely hard because there's Kagisho Dikgacoi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Jali and Khuboni fighting for that position.

Mosimane was content with the performance of the team that had eight debutants. "We started on a positive note considering we were playing away. We did not concede a goal, which is good. It was difficult. The conditions were humid but the pitch was good with the grass long and soft."

"The boys did their best if you consider they had just come back from Christmas and New Year's holidays. We played hosts who had been preparing for the last two and half months. These young boys showed patriotism and respect for the flag," Mosimane said.