Mahlangu slammed

BAFANA Bafana coach Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba did not try to hide his disgust yesterday after midfielder May Mahlangu used fatigue as an excuse for not joining the squad ahead of their crucial African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria.

South Africa face Sudan at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday and a win will ensure their qualification, even though a venue for the tournament has yet to be confirmed.

Mashaba has dealt with far worse, his first tenure as Bafana coach in 2003 and '04 being dominated by Europe-based players finding the minutest of reasons for evading national team duty.

Mashaba said Mahlangu, who plays for IFK Göteborg in Sweden, sent him an e-mail saying he was tired, the withdrawal coming from the player, not the team.

The selfsame Mahlangu, who was clubless early last year, was nursed back to health by the very same national team during the African Nations Championship when he was recovering from a serious groin injury.

"It is not acceptable that the player tells me he is tired, but I don't get angry any more," Mashaba said.

''I have told myself I need to be able to smile. I think we will have to follow it up with the powers that be, maybe Fifa or CAF, because it is not acceptable for a player to tell us he is tired.

"We received an e-mail from him, but the country has too much talent to be disappointed by one person.

"The next time these players are not called up, you must understand the reason.

"When I took up this position, I raised the question of patriotism, which is the most important thing.

"When the player comes out and says he's tired when he is picked for the national team, what about the players who have been sacrificing their time for the national team? Those are the players we need to look at." Mahlangu was not available for comment yesterday.

Bafana will also be without Sibusiso Vilakazi, who has been ruled out with a toe injury. Thulani Serero took part in yesterday's first training session and is struggling with a mild thigh muscle strain.

There is still the small matter of having to deal with the emotions surrounding South Africa's first match since the passing of Senzo Meyiwa.

But Mashaba said the team's emotions were in the right place. He will announce his captain on Friday.

Bafana have not qualified for a tournament since the 2008 Ghana edition.

Mashaba says their focus is squarely on beating Sudan and letting the other things fall into place.

If there is one thing missing from Mashaba's second stint, it is a win at home.

"I haven't looked at Sudan's recent games and it would have been a good thing if I did. At the same time, I don't want to read too much into them.

"We have our players [who] we need to psyche up for the game.

"It will be a good thing if we win at home because we have been winning away. By the time we get home, the celebration has already subsided. - Khanyiso Tshwaku