Bafana Bafana coach Molefi slams European clubs for not releasing players for Afcon qualifiers

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 09: Moelfi Ntseki during the Bafana Bafana welcome press conference at Maharani Hotel on November 09, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images)Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has expressed his displeasure on how most African teams have been decimated due to the refusal of most European clubs to allow players join their national teams amid the international break.Ntseki made the comment on the back of some South African players based abroad who were not allowed to join the team for the game against Ghana in the AFCON qualifiers.Per the new directives from the world Football governing body, FIFA regarding Covid-19 states that clubs are not expected to release players in the current international date if there is a mandatory period of quarantine or self-isolation of at least five days upon arrival back at their clubs.This has affected both South Africa and Ghana as the two countries will be without some of their key players for the game on Thursday.Im very disappointed because we always look at football as a global sport as a game of billions. And we always try to make friends with people whether locally or in Africa or all over the world the Bafana coach said.But the circular [by Fifa] that [said clubs have] got the right to refuse players to come I think its a sad story for football. … Dean Furman has been a key player for us. Bongani Zungu was in our last camp he did very well the attitude was good he was looking forward to helping the team qualify.Keagan Dolly was actually in tears because he really wanted to be part of the team.Earlier in his arrivals press conference on Monday Ntseki had not pulled punches showing his disgruntlement at the situation.Firstly I think we should all agree that nobody from South Africa and nobody from Africa brought about Covid-19 he said.And it is very unfair for us to be punished and to be saying We cannot release players to come to South Africa because South Africa is a hotspot. I think all over the world is a hotspot because Covid-19 is all over the world.South Africa host the Black Stars of Ghana at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.A win for South Africa will see them book an early ticket to the AFCON tournament next year.