Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has urged the South African Football Association to rest his players ahead of the CAF Champions League final.
Four Brazilians have been called up to report for
international duty with Bafana Bafana after their 3-0 loss to Bidvest Wits in
the MTN 8 final, during which many of the Downs' players looked lethargic due
to the fatigue.
However, it needs to be observed that Mosimane's previous
calls for his players to be rested have been ignored with South Africa head
coach Shakes Mashaba fielding his star players in a dead rubber African Cup of
Nations clash against Mauritania just last month.
South Africa begin their World Cup qualifiers this weekend
with a highly-anticipated encounter against Burkino Faso - as midfielders
Keagan Dolly, Hlompho Kekana and defender Tebogo Langerman look likely to
feature.
"I will try and rest those who are not called-up as
much as we can because you know we have been playing football continuously for
the past 15 months," Mosimane told reporters.
"We will try to get as much rest as possible. But now
there's international matches coming up and there are those traveling to
Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.
"You've got to understand my players are going there
and then have to come back ... it's World Cup qualifiers and I expect them to
be part of it and help the country go to the World Cup.
"There's no excuse in that and they must be on the flight, but I don't know about the friendly [against Ghana].
"In three days' time I have a game, the Champions
League final, but last time we tried SAFA, we didn't address it well … but we
will send a letter again to say 'do it the right way'.
"I don't know if they have to be part of this friendly game against Ghana, but it's not my call. I have to respect them."