Sundowns request release of players from Bafana duty ahead of Champions League final

Mamelodi Sundowns have written to the South African Football Association (Safa) asking that their players not be used in the Bafana Bafana friendly against Ghana next Tuesday.

Keegan Dolly‚ Hlompho Kekana‚ Tebego Langerman and new signing Sibusiso Vilakazi have all been included in the squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier and next Tuesday’s friendly against Ghana in Durban.

But Sundowns want Dolly‚ Kekana and Langerman returned to them after the weekend game in Ouagadougou as they prepare for the first leg of the final against Zamalek of Egypt in Atteridgeville on October 15.

“We have sent a letter to them to ask that they be released ahead of the Ghana match because we need them for our Champions League game‚” said coach Pitso Mosimane‚ at the same time admitting that his club had botched a similar request before the last two Bafana Bafana outings.

Mosimane had used a press conference before the two September internationals against Mauritania and Egypt to question why Sundowns players had been called up for meaningless matches and said that if he had been in charge of the national team he would not have used them‚ allowing them to rest instead and be fresher for the club’s campaign in the Champions League.

But Mashaba ignored the call from Mosimane and used Dolly‚ Kekana and Langerman in both the Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritania and the subsequent 1-0 win over the Pharoahs in the Nelson Mandela Challenge.

A defiant Mashaba criticised Mosimane’s approach and said had he been asked he would he have acceded to the Sundowns request.

Now that a formal letter has been sent‚ Mashaba will be under pressure to keep to his word and let the Sundowns trio return to their club from Monday onwards the prepare for the Champions League final.

Vilakazi is not registered to play in the Champions League so would be able to stay on and be able to play in Bafana’s friendly against the Black Stars at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“Going there and going back to Ouagadougou is difficult for them but it is World Cup [qualifier] and I expect my players to have the chance to go the World Cup‚” he said.

“There is no excuse ‚ they must be on the flight on go there. But I don’t know about the friendly. Last time we didn’t address it well‚ we sent a letter again to do it the right way but it is not my call‚” added Mosimane.