It was once called Boxing Day. Now Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru’s plan to start preparations for the African Nations Cup on the day after Christmas has received a shuddering, if not decisive knock-out blow from Fifa.
World soccer’s controlling body have a clause in their constitution making it obligatory for players selected for the tournament in Egypt to honour the commitment, but with the proviso clubs need only release them 14 days before their opening game.
With Bafana’s first game in Egypt against Guinea on January 22, players need not be released by their clubs until January 8 — 13 days after Dumitru’s proposed training launch on December 26.
The stipulation will affect mainly those players on the books of overseas clubs, with Dumitru having selected 10 of them in a provisional squad of 35.
The number in the squad will be reduced to a mandatory 23 when Dumitru holds a press conference on December 22 and it is open to speculation how many of the 10 — Aaron Mokoena, Mbulelo Mabizela, Steven Pienaar, Sibusiso Zuma, Siyabonga Nomvete, Elrio van Heerden, Benni McCarthy, Dillon Sheppard, Nikosinathi Nhleko and Asanda Sishuba — the Bafana coach will ultimately retain.
But on past evidence, the Fifa rule will not prevent the crusty Bafana coach starting his preparation on what is now called the Day of Goodwill in South Africa — even if it is with a somewhat depleted squad.
What is more, Dumitru has in the past indicated a preference for locally-based players.
Repeated efforts to obtain Dumitru or Safa CEO Raymond Hack for comment on the Fifa regulation regarding the release of players have drawn a blank — presumably because they are busy studying the rules. – Sapa