AmaZulu Star On Ivory Coast Playing Chances

AmaZulu striker Junior Dion has lambasted Ivory Coast football association, saying there is no chance he will play for his country since he is playing his club football in Africa – this time in the PSL – because his coach Jean-Louis Gasset prefers European-based players.

Dion said even if he can try all he could at AmaZulu, he will never get a look at his country’s national team because of the league he plays in.

The former Marumo Gallants striker sounded so unhappy when asked about his status with Ivory Coast, who are hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals next year in January and February.

Angrily, Dion said coach Gasset, who took over in May last year following the sacking of another Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle, will not consider him because he plays his club football in Africa.   

“I don’t want to talk about my national team, leave these people like this,” said Dion.

“I want to show here (on the field with AmaZulu). He (Gasset) likes players from Europe and he likes players who are playing in Europe.”

Dion was speaking for the first time to the media since he joined the club in January transfer window from Gallants as his English is getting better, unlike a few months ago.

“You will see when the league finishes here, I won’t be called up. He likes players who are playing in Europe,” Dion added.

This revelation is bizarre because Beaumelle, who was sacked in April last year after Ivory Coast lost in the round of 16 to losing to AFCON finalists Egypt in last year’s event in Cameroon, extensively used then JDR Stars goalie and now Sekhukhune United – Ali Badri Sangare who was part of the AFCON finals side.

Badri was also included in these two matches – AFCON qualifying games against Comoros, playing in the first game last Friday before he made way for Charles Folly in the second match of the doubleheader on Sunday.   

However, Dion, who has scored three goals for Usuthu since he joined them, has a huge task in his hands to influence Gasset’s hands following the return of Borussia Dortmund’s top striker Sebastien Haller from sickness.

The former Ajax Amsterdam striker, who scored 11 goals in the UEFA Champions League last season for the Dutch side before he suffered testicular cancer after joining Germany side Dortmund during the off-season, was part of the Elephants side that defeated last year’s AFCON surprise packages Comoros, scoring in the 3-1 win on Friday, before Elephants did the double over the same opponents on Sunday (2-0).