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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has questioned the decision to allow six Orlando Pirates players to be withdrawn from Bafana Bafana's squad for their friendly against Nigeria in Durban on Wednesday night.
Pirates asked for Andile Jali, Thabo Matlaba, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Oupa Manyisa, Daine Klate and Senzo Meyiwa to be withdrawn from the national squad so they can focus on their CAF Champions League match away to Egyptian giants Zamalek on Saturday.
Pirates were drawn to face Chiefs in the MTN8 semis, with Chiefs hosting the first leg next Wednesday before the return leg at Bucs on August 25.
Chiefs have six players away at the Bafana squad and Baxter feels it is unfair that Pirates will now get more time together as a team before next week's first MTN8 duel.
"The fact that Pirates don't have their players with the national team may be an issue," Baxter told the Cape Times.
"Maybe at Naturena (Chiefs' training ground) at the moment their heads are together after seeing the draw and they are asking themselves about the fairness of Pirates not having to play these games in preparation (for Zamalek), and our players have tom play the (Bafana) games. That is something we are going to have to speak about," continued Baxter.
Bafana play Burkina Faso in another friendly on Saturday which means Chiefs' players could only return for training late on Sunday or Monday morning, giving Baxter little time to prepare for the clash with Pirates.
In the other MTN8 semi-final encounter, Platinum Stars take on Wits next Tuesday, with the return leg on August 24.
Pirates asked for Andile Jali, Thabo Matlaba, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Oupa Manyisa, Daine Klate and Senzo Meyiwa to be withdrawn from the national squad so they can focus on their CAF Champions League match away to Egyptian giants Zamalek on Saturday.
Pirates were drawn to face Chiefs in the MTN8 semis, with Chiefs hosting the first leg next Wednesday before the return leg at Bucs on August 25.
Chiefs have six players away at the Bafana squad and Baxter feels it is unfair that Pirates will now get more time together as a team before next week's first MTN8 duel.
"The fact that Pirates don't have their players with the national team may be an issue," Baxter told the Cape Times.
"Maybe at Naturena (Chiefs' training ground) at the moment their heads are together after seeing the draw and they are asking themselves about the fairness of Pirates not having to play these games in preparation (for Zamalek), and our players have tom play the (Bafana) games. That is something we are going to have to speak about," continued Baxter.
Bafana play Burkina Faso in another friendly on Saturday which means Chiefs' players could only return for training late on Sunday or Monday morning, giving Baxter little time to prepare for the clash with Pirates.
In the other MTN8 semi-final encounter, Platinum Stars take on Wits next Tuesday, with the return leg on August 24.
