CHIEFS’ boss Kaizer Motaung has complained about excessive numbers of his players doing duty with Bafana Bafana in the Caribbean. Motaung claims he was assured his players would not be called up as Chiefs are in a tight premiership race with Sundowns. Four Chiefs players are in the island-hopping squad: Brian Baloyi, Doctor Khumalo, Pollen Ndlanya, and Siyabonga Nomvete. Bafana Bafana general manager Zola Dunywa claims the PSL was consulted on pulling Chiefs and Sundowns players due to the lack of foreign-based stars. Noting that the tour is designed to help win votes for the 2006 bid, Dunywa said Motaung must make sacrifices.
Sundowns’ coach Ted Dumitru has also lashed out at soccer’s top brass alleging that Safa’s blunders could cost Sundowns dearly. Dumitru was reacting to the loss of five key players to the Bafana Bafana squad for their internationals against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday and Jamaica on Sunday. Dumitru argued that friendlies like these should be organised for the end of the seson, not just before the climax. He also mentioned that the travelling back and forth will take its toll on his players.