/ 12 November 2014

Safa bans May Mahlangu from Bafana

May Mahlangu in action against Morocco at Afcon 2013.
May Mahlangu in action against Morocco at Afcon 2013.

The South African Football Association (Safa) has vowed to never again select May Mahlangu for the national team after he asked to be excused from a training camp because of fatigue.

Safa has banned the Sweden-based midfielder from future call-ups, with chief executive Dennis Mumble saying “we will not tolerate an individual who does not take national call-ups seriously”.

Mahlangu failed to join the team this week ahead of South Africa’s final two qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (Afcon). 

Coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba said Mahlangu had sent an email explaining he had played a lot of games recently and needed a rest.

South Africa plays Sudan on Saturday and Nigeria next week, and needs one win to qualify for Afcon 2015.

Mahlangu made his debut for Bafana Bafana in 2012, in a friendly against Senegal. He has made just 10 appearances for the national team and played for South Africa in Afcon 2013. 

He plays club football for IFK Göteborg in Gothenburg, Sweden. – Sapa-AP