Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has raised concerns about a lack of communication from PSL clubs, particularly Mamelodi Sundowns, regarding injured players recently.
Broos expressed his surprise to see Sundowns’ right-back Khuliso Mudau playing against Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 semi-final second-leg, two days before the Bafana camp, as he had previously been ruled out due to injury.
The same situation has occurred again, with Sundowns winger Thapelo Maseko playing in the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, despite being ruled out of the Bafana squad for friendlies against Eswatini and Ivory Coast due to an injury.
Speaking in a press conference, Broos said: “Unfortunately, this camp is again disturbed by injuries like last month we had (Bathusi) Aubaas, (currently) we have (Thapelo) Morena, (Innocent) Maela, we have Maseko. Maseko is something different, it’s the second time that we have that surprise that the player is injured, then suddenly he plays. It was last month with Mudau, this month is Maseko. I think we need better communication between me or the national team and clubs, so that we know how much the player is injured and if he is not ready to come with the national team.”
The 71-year-old mentor also revealed that he had planned to have a meeting with PSL coaches four times since he has been the head coach of Bafana, but the PSL postponed those meetings on each occasion.
“I tried already two years to meet with the coaches and every time PSL postpones it, so I did four attempts and four times it was postponed by PSL. So I know that the communication can be better but it’s not my fault (and) it’s not my responsibility,” he said.
Broos’ comments have highlighted the importance of better communication between clubs and the national team in order to ensure that Bafana are able to select the best possible squad for each international fixture.
