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Sofa in Holland more comfortable than Bafana bench - Serero

Cape Town - Thulani Serero has broken his silence on his decision to snub a Bafana Bafana call-up for the 2018 Soccer World Cup qualifiers against Senegal.

Serero has stuck by his decision to not honour the recent call-up against the Lions of Teranga saying that he preferred to stay on his sofa in the Netherlands than be stuck on the Bafana bench.

Bafana Bafana's dreams of qualifying for Russia 2018 were shattered in a 2-0 loss in Polokwane at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

The Vitesse Arnhem midfielder informed the national team management that they should cancel his flight after his demand for a starting berth was rejected by Stuart Baxter.

"The sofa in Arnhem is more comfortable than the South African bench," he told the Dutch media. "I have thought about it long and hard.

"If the national team wants me, then I must play. As the situation is now I don't want to go."

The 27-year-old's decision came after being an unused substitute in the last three qualifiers against Cape Verde and Burkina Faso.

Serero confirmed that he had notified Baxter of his decision on November 5 although the coach said he was informed by team manager Barney Kujane.

The player's international career now seems to be over after SAFA chief executive Denis Mumble said that Serero's Bafana career was over.

Meanwhile Baxter has insisted that there are no dead rubber games in the national team set up and would select the best starting XI for their final qualifier against Senegal at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in the capital Dakar.

Kick off is at 21:30.

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