Bafana Bafana's goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.
In an unedited statement, the Orlando Pirates shot-stopper told
SuperSport.com he had not made a hasty decision.
“It is with a heavy heart, and after careful consideration and discussion with both my family and manager, that I have elected to retire from international football with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Josephs withdrew from the Bafana squad on Tuesday while in camp in Rustenburg ahead of two 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
The South African Football Association said he had informed team management in writing he would no longer be available for international duty.
Media reports, quoting Pirates teammate Benni McCarthy, suggested he had pulled the curtain on his international career after failing to edge out Itumeleng Khune as the national side’s first-choice keeper.
“At the age of 32, keeping in mind the injuries that I have sustained, together with my desire to prolong my career, and considering the fantastic young goalkeepers in our country, I believe that it is the correct time to ‘step aside’,” Josephs said.
“In addition, I have spent very little time with my family in recent years, and I believe this decision will give me the opportunity to do so.” – Sapa