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Johannesburg - Former South Africa goalkeeper Brian Baloyi has slammed Moeneeb Josephs's decision to retire from international football, branding the Orlando Pirates keeper a "prima donna".
Josephs, who played 19 times for Bafana Bafana, confirmed on Wednesday he is no longer available for national selection, citing family and fitness concerns.
However, Bucs teammate Benni McCarthy indicated in an interview that Josephs quit as he was frustrated at playing second fiddle to Bafana number one Itumeleng Khune.
And Baloyi, capped 24 times in a 15-year career, feels Josephs took the easy way out.
"We cannot condone what he's doing," Baloyi told IOL.
"He's behaving like a prima donna. He is basically intimating that he would only play for the national team if he's guaranteed to start, but that would be sending the wrong message to younger players.
"He should have striven to work harder and support Itu."
Baloyi added that he was often overlooked for the likes of Andre Arendse and Hans Vonk even though he was excelling for Kaizer Chiefs.
He said: "I played all the games at the 1998 African Nations Cup. Three months later I was on the bench at the World Cup in France. But I never behaved like this, even though that was painful.
"I never contemplated retirement because ultimately it was about what's good for the country. Moeneeb is clearly getting wrong advice.
"Being called for national duty is an honour and privilege, and I would never put selfish interests ahead of the country. We need to teach the current generation about patriotism because clearly that is lacking," concluded the 38-year-old.
