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Cape Town - Platinum Stars defender Benson Mhlongo says Bafana Bafana’s players aren’t fighters and has labelled them “mama’s babies”.
GALLERY: Bafana's Eagles agony!
VIDEO: Fans respond to Bafana's loss
VIDEO: Soccer Laduma Editor Clint Roper on Bafana and Mbalula's comments
This comes after Bafana's disappointing exit in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) when they lost 3-1 to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday night.
Writing in a column on the Daily Sun website, the former Bafana defender also hinted that the standard of South African football will not grow until the technical team stop selecting players based on history or popularity.
Mhlongo singled out Kaizer Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala, saying the player is competing with no one for a starting place.
“Mayanga” also stated that certain individuals know they are guaranteed a place in the 23-man team long before it is announced by coach Gordon Igesund.
The Alexandra-born player also took the country’s football fraternity down memory lane when he mentioned goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs's retirement from the national team under Pitso Mosimane in 2012.
Mhlongo said Josephs was on top of his game at the time and deserved to be recognised for his hard work but instead the technical team opted to continue with Itumeleng Khune although he was underperforming at the time.
Mhlongo added that as a country we really need to have an independent body when it comes to player selections.
He further said that a lot of the players know they do not deserve to be in the team and it has been happening for many years without being addressed.
He said it cannot continue as it leads the nation to only one outcome - failure.
Mhlongo last featured for the national team in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final against Brazil when he kept the then feared Brazilian attacking midfielder, Kaka, at bay for the duration of the match, despite Bafana losing 1-0 on the day.
Mhlongo won 36 caps in Bafana colours.
CLICK HERE to read Benson Mhlongo's full column on the Daily Sun website.
GALLERY: Bafana's Eagles agony!
VIDEO: Fans respond to Bafana's loss
VIDEO: Soccer Laduma Editor Clint Roper on Bafana and Mbalula's comments
This comes after Bafana's disappointing exit in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) when they lost 3-1 to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday night.
Writing in a column on the Daily Sun website, the former Bafana defender also hinted that the standard of South African football will not grow until the technical team stop selecting players based on history or popularity.
Mhlongo singled out Kaizer Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala, saying the player is competing with no one for a starting place.
“Mayanga” also stated that certain individuals know they are guaranteed a place in the 23-man team long before it is announced by coach Gordon Igesund.
The Alexandra-born player also took the country’s football fraternity down memory lane when he mentioned goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs's retirement from the national team under Pitso Mosimane in 2012.
Mhlongo said Josephs was on top of his game at the time and deserved to be recognised for his hard work but instead the technical team opted to continue with Itumeleng Khune although he was underperforming at the time.
Mhlongo added that as a country we really need to have an independent body when it comes to player selections.
He further said that a lot of the players know they do not deserve to be in the team and it has been happening for many years without being addressed.
He said it cannot continue as it leads the nation to only one outcome - failure.
Mhlongo last featured for the national team in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final against Brazil when he kept the then feared Brazilian attacking midfielder, Kaka, at bay for the duration of the match, despite Bafana losing 1-0 on the day.
Mhlongo won 36 caps in Bafana colours.
CLICK HERE to read Benson Mhlongo's full column on the Daily Sun website.
