Ayanda Patosi has been slammed by his Foolad head coach in Iran, and he has sidelined the South African midfielder from practice after his late arrival at the club.
The former Cape Town City and Lokeren player has been playing for Foolad since 2020 and recently renewed with the Iranian team.
The 30-year-old has 12 caps for Bafana Bafana, scoring three times, but last played for the national team in 2016.
According to Mehrnews, Javad Nekonam was not happy with Patosi after he reportedly did not show up to the club’s training at the required time after reportedly being involved in accident while at home in South Africa.
Nekonam was not pleased, and said Patosi was unprofessional and will not be training with the team for the time being.
“We made mistakes in signing the contract, I don’t like to open the issues,” he was quoted as saying.
“It is our fault that the first player of the season does not come now. Why do we cover up when a player makes a mistake?
“He made a mistake and should be punished. There is no difference between captain and big or small team. The player did not come; Whatever happened.
“Patosi said that ‘I had an accident’. If you see the photos of the accident, you will laugh. His hand and head are wounded. The club showed me the photos. The player’s leg was healthy and he could come.
“If this happens, the player has no right not to take care of himself. I remember in Spain, one of the great players of Barcelona was fined when he went for dangerous fun. It is the same all over the world. You are not allowed to do that when you are under a club contract.
“Our club says that Patosi had an accident; Yes, I know, but he shouldn’t have done that. He had to take care of himself. His leg was healthy and he could come.
“Unfortunately, a series of mistakes are made that are not correct and we must speak decisively and the player should know what his duty is.
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“Patosi made a mistake and should be fined. I will definitely not let him practice. He does not disrespect me. I have earned my place in football.
“Our players have been working hard since the first day and have been away from their families for a month. Ishan – Patosi – was resting with his family.
“This is disrespectful to the team. I will not allow anyone to disrespect the team. If a strict disciplinary decision had been taken the first time, these events would not have happened.
“The attitude of the club was not such that it would be a lesson for him. That’s why I have to take action myself because there were some unkind things about these events that called everything into question.”
