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Cape Town - The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) has urged the South African Football Association (SAFA) to give the Ajax Amsterdam midfielder, Thulani Serero, another chance to don the national team jersey.
Serero, 23, was at the centre of controversy when he was dismissed from the Bafana Bafana camp by head coach, Gordon Igesund, on the eve of the crucial 2014 Soccer World Cup qualifier against Botswana at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban last month.
Bafana won the match, 4-1, but still fail to qualify as Ethiopia finished at the summit of Group A after thumping Central African Republic, 3-1.
Igesund revealed that time that the former Premier Soccer League’s footballer of the season chose his club before his country of birth by faking an injury to miss the country’s do or die clash as a precaution to feature in his team, Ajax, ‘s game against FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League the following Wednesday.
Igesund then released a statement saying Serero is still part of his future plans despite an incident but it is up to SAFA do decide on the matter.
According to a report from Kickoff website, SAFPU insists the former Ajax Cape Town man deserves a chance to tell his side of the story.
“What we don’t understand is why SAFA was [so] quick to suspend the player before they could even hear his side of the story. What happened to being innocent until proven guilty?”
“It does not make sense to suspend Serero before hearing him out. We would like to plead with the SAFA to rethink their current stance on Serero. As things stand now, SAFA only got the report from Gordon and are waiting to hear Serero’s side of the story, so they cannot deprive him the opportunity to represent his beloved country.
“SAFA should not look for an easy way out on the issue of club versus country; when you really take a closer look at this matter you will realize the genesis of this issue.”
According to a source at SAFA house, Serero will still represent his country in the future, despite missing out in an international friendly against Morocco last Friday.
“Definitely Serero will still play for Bafana again. That is all I can say for now.” Revealed the source.
It remains to be seen how long it will take for Serero to bounce back to the national team fold.
Serero, 23, was at the centre of controversy when he was dismissed from the Bafana Bafana camp by head coach, Gordon Igesund, on the eve of the crucial 2014 Soccer World Cup qualifier against Botswana at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban last month.
Bafana won the match, 4-1, but still fail to qualify as Ethiopia finished at the summit of Group A after thumping Central African Republic, 3-1.
Igesund revealed that time that the former Premier Soccer League’s footballer of the season chose his club before his country of birth by faking an injury to miss the country’s do or die clash as a precaution to feature in his team, Ajax, ‘s game against FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League the following Wednesday.
Igesund then released a statement saying Serero is still part of his future plans despite an incident but it is up to SAFA do decide on the matter.
According to a report from Kickoff website, SAFPU insists the former Ajax Cape Town man deserves a chance to tell his side of the story.
“What we don’t understand is why SAFA was [so] quick to suspend the player before they could even hear his side of the story. What happened to being innocent until proven guilty?”
“It does not make sense to suspend Serero before hearing him out. We would like to plead with the SAFA to rethink their current stance on Serero. As things stand now, SAFA only got the report from Gordon and are waiting to hear Serero’s side of the story, so they cannot deprive him the opportunity to represent his beloved country.
“SAFA should not look for an easy way out on the issue of club versus country; when you really take a closer look at this matter you will realize the genesis of this issue.”
According to a source at SAFA house, Serero will still represent his country in the future, despite missing out in an international friendly against Morocco last Friday.
“Definitely Serero will still play for Bafana again. That is all I can say for now.” Revealed the source.
It remains to be seen how long it will take for Serero to bounce back to the national team fold.
