FORMER Bafana Bafana coach Philippe Troussier was on Saturday issued with a verbal warning by the Japan Football Association (JFA) for making critical comments about a tournament sponsor. JFA general secretary Kenji Mori warned the Frenchmen after the coach’s reported remark on the on-going Kirin Cup tournament in Japan. Mori warned Troussier not to make any comments interpreted as criticism against sponsors for JFA-related events particularly in a meeting with his players. Japanese newspapers reported Troussier told his national team players on Friday that he could not stand a reception held last Monday for teams participating in the tournament. Players are “made a show of” at such receptions as the sponsor only takes their pictures and asks for autographs, the Nikkan Sports daily quoted him as saying. “Say clearly you don’t want to attend from now,” he reportedly told players. Japan’s major beer company Kirin Brewery Co. has sponsored the annual Kirin Cup tournament which began in 1978 as the Japan Cup. Troussier, who became the coach after last year’s World Cup in France where he coached South Africa, abruptly cancelled his press conference originally scheduled after Saturday’s practice on the eve of a match against Peru.