Quinton Fortune, the not-so-young enfant terrible of South African soccer, is still in caretaker coach Pitso Mosimane’s plans for the key African Nations Cup qualifying game against the Democratic Republic of Congo at FNB Stadium next Saturday.
The Bolton Wanderers utility player, who was recently transferred from Manchester United, performed his characteristic ”Invisible Man” impersonation when he failed to turn up for the friendly against Namibia last week because of injury — only to play for his new club against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premiership over the weekend.
In addition, in spite of concerted efforts by South African Football Association (Safa) officials and Mosimane to clarify the issue with the player, Fortune remained as elusive in this mystifying melodrama as the Phantom of the Opera.
”I will select him for the Congo game if I feel he warrants a place in the squad,” said Mosimane on Thursday, ”and we will take it from there. But I am quite sure this issue is coming to a head — one way or another.”
The Bafana Bafana coach said it is mandatory for Fortune to make himself available for the Congo game ”because it is part of an officially sanctioned Fifa tournament”.
”I don’t want to pre-empt the situation,” added Mosimane, ”but there are all sorts of disciplinary measures that could be imposed on Fortune if he does not honour a commitment to play for South Africa — and this includes suspending him from a number of games for his club.”
”In any case,” said the Bafana coach, ”let’s not jump the gun. At this moment I am simply considering Quinton for selection. So, let’s not cry wolf when there might not be any danger.”
Mosimane is due to announce his squad on Thursday, when it will become clearer whether there are indeed any wolves baying at the Bafana door. — Sapa