Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs’ struggles in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) have cascaded down to Bafana Bafana with their players being shunned for national duty.
Only winger Kgaogelo Sekgota was selected for the international friendly matches against Sierra Leone and Botswana. Ashley du Preez was called-up as a backup following an injury to Lyle Foster.
Not long ago Chiefs players were prominent in the Bafana Bafana set-up but now Mamelodi Sundowns dominate the national team while Orlando Pirates contribute a large number of players.
When Hugo Broos came in, the likes of Njabulo Blom, Austin Dube, Njabulo Ngcobo, goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, Keagan Dolly and Sifiso Hlanti were trusted by the Belgian.
But now, Broos appears to have lost faith in Amakhosi players.
When Yusuf Maart was with Sekhukhune United, he was a Bafana regular, but moving to Chiefs has cost him his national team place.
“I think Yusuf is a little bit a victim of the bad start of Chiefs,” admitted Broos.
“It is the same with Dolly. Chiefs have not started the season well and when I see Yusuf play it’s not the Yusuf I know from Sekhukhune.”
He said they seemed to be struggling with confidence because the results were not there.
“But he stays on the list for the next games and if Yusuf can again achieve his level from Sekhukhune then there is no problem,” said Broos.
While Chiefs have been struggling, the omission of Dolly, who is regarded as one of the senior players in the Bafana fold, has sparked debate and divided opinion.
But Broos has stuck to his guns, insisting that the former Montpellier star is having a bad patch and is not guaranteed a spot in his Bafana squad.
“Keagan didn’t start very well with Kaizer Chiefs,” said Broos.
“Chiefs didn’t start the season very well and he was even on the bench. There has to be a reason that Keagan Dolly is on the bench and the reason is that he is not at the level of the Keagan Dolly we know.”
Broos said he had to be severe in these kinds of situations.
Broos is pressing for Bafana to have friendly matches in November when some teams will be preparing for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
If this happens it remains to be seen if more Chiefs players will be considered.
For now, Sekgota did well in a 4-0 win over Sierra Leone on Saturday although he lasted 69 minutes while Du Preez came on as a late substitute and played 6 minutes.
Image source: @FourFourTwo
