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Cape Town - Coach Gordon Igesund says his Bafana Bafana squad to play Australia and New Zealand has been ravaged by withdrawals, with 11 out of the original 18-man squad not taking part.
"There have been a couple of withdrawals unfortunately. Of the 18 players called up, 11 have withdrawn through injury and clubs not wanting to release players," Igesund said at OR Tambo International airport on Tuesday.
"With some of the players, we only found out last night [that they had withdrawn]."
Bafana are due to play Australia in a friendly match in Sydney on Monday, which falls outside a Fifa-sanctioned date as the Aussies fine tune their preparations for the World Cup.
Four days later, Bafana are scheduled to play New Zealand in Auckland.
"I can confirm that players that are out are Oupa Manyisa, Thabo Matlaba (both pending medicals), Itumeleng Khune, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Bernard Parker, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Tsepo Masilela, Siyanda Xulu, Andile Jali, and Sibusiso Vilakazi.
"In their place I've called up Hlompho Kekana for 'KG. Senzo Meyiwa for Khune. Thuso Phala for 'Shabba', Thato Mokeke for Masilela. Kermit Erasmus for Parker and Eric Mathoho for Xulu. I also called up Vilakazi to replace Jali, but then he later got injured. In his place I've called up Teko Modise instead".
The coach also said he had not heard back from all of the new call-ups, with speculation that some players were already on holiday, possibly outside of South Africa.
"This thing has come at a bad time for us. The players are human beings and need to go on holiday after a long season.
"It's always tough to get a late call-up."
Erasmus was rumoured to already be on holiday in Holland, and Igesund said he not been in contact with the player directly, as his phone was turned off.
"If Kermit is on holiday in Holland I have to respect that."
It was a frustrating situation for the entire team staff, Igesund said.
"If I look at the players that are missing, nine of them would've started the match. It becomes difficult with only two days to prepare."
The squad was originally scheduled to leave for Australia on Wednesday, but will now leave on Thursday as team management scramble to secure visas and officials documents for the late additional players to make the trip.
South Africa squad:
Goalkeepers:
Ronwen Williams, Senzo Meyiwa
Defenders:
Thabo Nthethe, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Thato Mokeke, Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba (pending medical), Eric Mathoho
Midfielders:
Teko Modise, Oupa Manyisa (pending medical), Bongani Zungu, Themba Zwane, Thulani Serero, Thuso Phala, Hlompho Kekana, Ayanda Patosi
Strikers:
Kermit Erasmus, Tokelo Rantie
"There have been a couple of withdrawals unfortunately. Of the 18 players called up, 11 have withdrawn through injury and clubs not wanting to release players," Igesund said at OR Tambo International airport on Tuesday.
"With some of the players, we only found out last night [that they had withdrawn]."
Bafana are due to play Australia in a friendly match in Sydney on Monday, which falls outside a Fifa-sanctioned date as the Aussies fine tune their preparations for the World Cup.
Four days later, Bafana are scheduled to play New Zealand in Auckland.
"I can confirm that players that are out are Oupa Manyisa, Thabo Matlaba (both pending medicals), Itumeleng Khune, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Bernard Parker, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Tsepo Masilela, Siyanda Xulu, Andile Jali, and Sibusiso Vilakazi.
"In their place I've called up Hlompho Kekana for 'KG. Senzo Meyiwa for Khune. Thuso Phala for 'Shabba', Thato Mokeke for Masilela. Kermit Erasmus for Parker and Eric Mathoho for Xulu. I also called up Vilakazi to replace Jali, but then he later got injured. In his place I've called up Teko Modise instead".
The coach also said he had not heard back from all of the new call-ups, with speculation that some players were already on holiday, possibly outside of South Africa.
"This thing has come at a bad time for us. The players are human beings and need to go on holiday after a long season.
"It's always tough to get a late call-up."
Erasmus was rumoured to already be on holiday in Holland, and Igesund said he not been in contact with the player directly, as his phone was turned off.
"If Kermit is on holiday in Holland I have to respect that."
It was a frustrating situation for the entire team staff, Igesund said.
"If I look at the players that are missing, nine of them would've started the match. It becomes difficult with only two days to prepare."
The squad was originally scheduled to leave for Australia on Wednesday, but will now leave on Thursday as team management scramble to secure visas and officials documents for the late additional players to make the trip.
South Africa squad:
Goalkeepers:
Ronwen Williams, Senzo Meyiwa
Defenders:
Thabo Nthethe, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Thato Mokeke, Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba (pending medical), Eric Mathoho
Midfielders:
Teko Modise, Oupa Manyisa (pending medical), Bongani Zungu, Themba Zwane, Thulani Serero, Thuso Phala, Hlompho Kekana, Ayanda Patosi
Strikers:
Kermit Erasmus, Tokelo Rantie
