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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will shy away from confrontation with PSL clubs and their coaches, even if it means losing out on soccer players he would like to field in the national squad.
"I am not going to pick a fight with (PSL) clubs or coaches because I need their support," he said when asked about clubs which lie about player availability to avoid a national squad call-up.
"There are structures in the SA Football Association (SAFA) to look into matters like that," Mosimane said before the team's training session in Philippi on Monday.
Mosimane said he had intended calling Soweto-born Ajax Cape Town midfielder Thulani Serero to Bafana Bafana's squad for Wednesday night's match against the United States in Cape Town.
"When I enquired, I was told that Serero was injured, but like everyone else I noticed that he played for Ajax twice in the past week.
"I still don't how the player could have played for Ajax if we were told the player was injured," he said.
The 20-year-old Serero, an attacking midfielder, scored the winner for Ajax in last week's midweek derby against Vasco da Gama. On Saturday, he ran out against Free State Stars in Bethlehem.
Serero is one of the rising stars in local football and there has already been talk that he could wing his way to Europe if he continues to show progress.
He was selected by previous Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for a pre-2010 World Cup training camp and has already been capped for the national Under-19 and Under-23 age-group squads.
Mosimane said national Under-23 coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba had also asked about Serero, but was also told he was injured.
Mosimane said he would meet coaches and officials of Cape Town clubs on Tuesday to clear the air about perceived bias against Cape Town-based players.
"There are provinces who have complained that they don't have a player in the national squad, so it's not only Cape Town that have that complaint," he said.
"I have been to Cape Town for tournaments, like the Bayhill, and I've watched matches from Thursday to Monday. I've also watched Vodacom League matches in Cape Town to scout for talent.
"I think we have been fair to Cape Town and one will recall that (Steven) Pienaar made his Bafana Bafana debut when he was Cape Town-based."
Despite Serero's absence, ticket sales in Cape Town have soared for the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday - the national team's final match of the year.
Match day vice captain Siphiwe 'Shabba' Tshabalala has promised that the team will end their international year in style.
"We know it will be a tough game for us, but we are ready as a team and are up for the challenge," said the Kaizer Chiefs marksmen, who is known for his penetrative raids down the left flank.
"We are missing a few regulars, but still have a very good team so we want a positive result.
"It will be our last game for 2010, so we want to end on a high and give the fans a really good game."
The match has an unusually late start of 9.30pm kick-off. Mosimane said match logistics fell outside the call of the national team coach.
"I'll tell you that coaches are the last people to control the time," he said.
"In these matches there are lots of logistics involved, and for one, TV controls the game today.
"It's something we're all know about and matches are sometimes played even after a soapie (has been screened)."
"We will have no problem about the time and I do not want to make excuses.
"We just want to get out there and perform on Wednesday."
