South Africa face Gambia in their opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday and the trio, especially Khune in goal, are expected to play an integral part in helping Bafana get the best possible start. Former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey yesterday said the fallout from failed contract negotiations between Kaizer Chiefs and stars Itumeleng Khune, Tefu Masha-maite and Mandla Masango should not have a negative effect on their contribution to the national team.Chiefs announced at a press conference last week that the trio would be leaving the club after talks over extending their stay in Naturena were complicated by their unreasonable demands for more money and other conditions.Kaizer Motaung, the Amakhosi chairman, singled out Khune, claiming the player was holding the club to "ransom", with Mashamaite and Masango also asking for more than Chiefs could afford.Bafana coach Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba named all three in his 27-man squad on the same day."If you think about it, no one has played any matches and that includes the players that are contracted to clubs," Tovey argued."The contract negotiations have got nothing to do with the national team or the [SA Football Association]. It's not like they have been inactive since December. They have been as active as any of the other players that have also been called up to the squad now."Tovey, who captained Bafana to their only Africa Cup of Nations title in 1996, said it was standard practice for players to be moving clubs at this time of the year and it should not have any influence on how the national team performed."I think Dean Furman is also looking for a club. Is he then also distracted? I don't think so. In fact, I think they will want to use that stage to impress," said Tovey.Though there has been plenty of reaction from fans and the trio's agents, the players have declined to break their silence. But they could find it difficult to avoid the topic during a week of preparation for the clash against Gambia...