Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Former Bafana Bafana players Helman Mkhalele and Linda Buthelezi say sports minister Fikile Mbalula was wrong to lash the players publicly.
GALLERY: Bafana's Eagles agony!
VIDEO: Fans respond to Bafana's loss
Mbalula shocked the sporting fraternity on Monday when he slammed Bafana after they were eliminated from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing 3-1 to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium.
"What I saw there was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers, who don't have any respect for this country and don't have any respect for anybody," Mbalula told a packed media conference in Cape Town on Monday.
Mkhalele, who played 66 times for Bafana between 1994 and 2001, told Wednesday's Cape Times that Mbalula's comments were justified, but he should have done it behind closed doors.
He feels all the things Mbalula said are true but it could break the players mentally because it was done in public. He said it could have a negative impact on the players' families and that it has damaged their image.
Buthulezi, who played 27 internationals, said what Mbalula said was "not on".
He agreed that Mbalula should have sat down with the team and analysed the situation with them.
Buthelezi also feels Mbalula's comments will decrease the players' chances of moving abroad as the rest of the world has now heard how "useless" our players are.
GALLERY: Bafana's Eagles agony!
VIDEO: Fans respond to Bafana's loss
Mbalula shocked the sporting fraternity on Monday when he slammed Bafana after they were eliminated from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing 3-1 to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium.
"What I saw there was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers, who don't have any respect for this country and don't have any respect for anybody," Mbalula told a packed media conference in Cape Town on Monday.
Mkhalele, who played 66 times for Bafana between 1994 and 2001, told Wednesday's Cape Times that Mbalula's comments were justified, but he should have done it behind closed doors.
He feels all the things Mbalula said are true but it could break the players mentally because it was done in public. He said it could have a negative impact on the players' families and that it has damaged their image.
Buthulezi, who played 27 internationals, said what Mbalula said was "not on".
He agreed that Mbalula should have sat down with the team and analysed the situation with them.
Buthelezi also feels Mbalula's comments will decrease the players' chances of moving abroad as the rest of the world has now heard how "useless" our players are.
