Doctor Khumalo has questioned why Mamelodi Sundowns players like Andile Jali have been overlooked for Bafana Bafana while laying the blame on the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The Bafana Bafana legend was speaking at what was meant to be the press conference for Ria Ledwada to accept her nomination for SAFA presidential candidacy on Tuesday morning where he took aim at SAFA for the poor performances of the national team who failed to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He suggested the current head coach whom he ‘respects’ has not received adequate guidance and leadership to rebuild the national team while stating he’s been ill-advised on selections, having notably attempted to drop the average age of the squad with several inexperienced players based in the PSL.
While Mamelodi Sundowns, who secured their fifth consecutive league title, and are on course for a domestic treble in the 2021/22 campaign has dominated South African football over the past decade, Khumalo feels they should also be dominating the national team squad selections with their experience and winning mentality.
“Our own national team coach, there are certain things he can’t do. He comes into the country, you can’t take away or shy away from what Sundowns is doing, the best team ever – they have the best players ever,” he said at the press conference at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
“How do you go and play a serious match and sacrifice South Africans, not the national team and you leave out players that I strongly believe would have made a difference.
“There’s no way Ethan Brooks could play away against Ghana and give us results when Andile Jali is out there, an experienced player. But with the help of legends, masters, it would have been a difference. It would have made a difference.”
Doctor Blasts SAFA Leadership Over Bafana Regression
