Bafana Bafana players who have just returned to the country after a month-long training camp in Brazil will not be allowed to take part in the Telkom Knockout final on Saturday.

However, Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town have not been informed that they would not be able to use the services of their Bafana players if they so wished for the match at King’s Park stadium this weekend. Chiefs had three players – Itumeleng Khune, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala – at the camp while Ajax had two – Thulani Serero and Lance Davids.

PSL chief executive officer Kjetil Siem told The Times yesterday that the agreement to ban the Bafana players from the cup games was taken by the league’s Board of Directors and SA Football Association before the national team left for Brazil.

“It was done to treat everyone fairly,” said Siem. “The moment you bring up that debate, it is the moment you open up room for unfairness. What if the other team decides not to play their Bafana players, then their opponents have an unfair advantage of having those players in their line-up.”

Siem said it would be unusual for the national team players to be brought back and slot into the first team during a cup competition. “It does not happen in Europe and it makes perfect sense why it should not happen here as well,” he said.

The Bafana players could however make it into the Nedbank cup which kick-off next week, only if they are not selected to take part in the Germany camp this month.

“If they are not selected, we can discuss it as that tournament has not started yet.”

Ajax spokesperson Thabiso Mekuto confirmed that the club was not made aware of the agreement between Safa and the PSL. Ajax coach Foppe de Haan told reporters that he would play Serero and Davids if they were fit enough for the final.

“I would have thought the PSL would have informed the clubs concerned about this situation as all of us are not aware that we can’t use our Bafana players,” said Mekuto. “I don’t think it’s a big blow though as perhaps the players would not mind if those who took the club there finished what they started.”