Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Lokeren head coach Peter Maes has lifted the lid on his reasons for sidelining Bafana Bafana prospect Ayanda Patosi this season.
Patosi made a sensational breakthrough at the Belgian club two years ago, but has been used sparingly in this campaign despite being fit after his recovery from injury.
The Lokeren boss has questioned the 21-year-old's professionalism, pointing at his struggles to manage his lifestyle as the main stumbling block.
"It remains a mental problem with Ayanda," Maes is quoted as saying by Voetbalkrant. "He knows he has to fight against his body, he has to train hard to maintain his weight but he still does not.
"He has sinned a lot and does not live for his sport. There is a lot of competition. Talent he has enough of, but he is unable to lead a structured life.
"He is not wise enough to get the most from his talent. He's finding it extremely difficult with life in Europe, the luxuries, the seductions, he can't resist it.
"As long as he's here, we'll try to help him, but he has to want it. That's the main thing. If he does not want, he should drop out. We have already done a lot of work for him," he added.
Patosi also lost an admirer in Bafana Bafana mentor Shakes Mashaba, who dumped him out of his plans after he missed two flights to honour a call-up for last month's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Patosi made a sensational breakthrough at the Belgian club two years ago, but has been used sparingly in this campaign despite being fit after his recovery from injury.
The Lokeren boss has questioned the 21-year-old's professionalism, pointing at his struggles to manage his lifestyle as the main stumbling block.
"It remains a mental problem with Ayanda," Maes is quoted as saying by Voetbalkrant. "He knows he has to fight against his body, he has to train hard to maintain his weight but he still does not.
"He has sinned a lot and does not live for his sport. There is a lot of competition. Talent he has enough of, but he is unable to lead a structured life.
"He is not wise enough to get the most from his talent. He's finding it extremely difficult with life in Europe, the luxuries, the seductions, he can't resist it.
"As long as he's here, we'll try to help him, but he has to want it. That's the main thing. If he does not want, he should drop out. We have already done a lot of work for him," he added.
Patosi also lost an admirer in Bafana Bafana mentor Shakes Mashaba, who dumped him out of his plans after he missed two flights to honour a call-up for last month's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
