Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs general manager Bobby Motaung has told Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund to look elsewhere for players for the Cosafa Cup.
In an interview with the SowetanLIVE website, Motaung said his players are "not horses" and that they need a break after a long and taxing PSL programme.
Igesund will on Thursday announce his squad to represent the country in the regional tournament in Zambia next month. He will also have no players from Orlando Pirates at his disposal.
Pirates refused to release their players because they have a vital CAF Champions League fixture against reigning Confederations Cup champions, AC Leopards, on July 21 - a day after the kickoff of the Cosafa Cup.
"We had a meeting with Igesund a while ago, and we told him that we are not going to release any of our players for this tournament," said Motaung.
"(The) Cosafa competition is not as important as the World Cup and is not even on the FIFA calendar. Our players have just returned from energy-sapping African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifier tournaments and we have pre-season preparations as well. If we continue using the same players for all the matches, what message are we sending to other players?"
Chiefs players who will be missed in the Bafana squad are captain Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Tsepo Masilela, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker and Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
In an interview with the SowetanLIVE website, Motaung said his players are "not horses" and that they need a break after a long and taxing PSL programme.
Igesund will on Thursday announce his squad to represent the country in the regional tournament in Zambia next month. He will also have no players from Orlando Pirates at his disposal.
Pirates refused to release their players because they have a vital CAF Champions League fixture against reigning Confederations Cup champions, AC Leopards, on July 21 - a day after the kickoff of the Cosafa Cup.
"We had a meeting with Igesund a while ago, and we told him that we are not going to release any of our players for this tournament," said Motaung.
"(The) Cosafa competition is not as important as the World Cup and is not even on the FIFA calendar. Our players have just returned from energy-sapping African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifier tournaments and we have pre-season preparations as well. If we continue using the same players for all the matches, what message are we sending to other players?"
Chiefs players who will be missed in the Bafana squad are captain Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Tsepo Masilela, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker and Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
