Bafana Bafana’s most capped player ever, Aaron Mokoena, has laid into Thulani Serero for holding the national team to ransom with his demands for playing time.

The Dutch-based man will play no part in South Africa’s must-win World Cup qualifiers against Senegal after his demands for playing time were rejected by coach Stuart Baxter.

Mokoena, who forms apart of Baxter’s support staff, highlighted his disappointment at the decision made by ”Cream”.

“This is sad, to be honest with you. I think there is some outside influence,” he said from the team’s hotel.

“I know I will be criticised for saying this, but I don’t think he has done himself any favours.

“The timing is just bad. This is a World Cup qualifier and the chance to go there is in our hands. The coach is trying to call the best players in the country, and to get withdrawals from two guys who are among his best players just breaks my heart.”

Mbazo spoke of his personal experience as a player in the national team and called Rantie and Serero’s actions into question.

“I have been in this situation before, but I have never asked a manager to guarantee me game time. Even at club level I would knock on their door and ask for an explanation as to why I am not playing, but I never once received confirmation that I would be guaranteed to play.

“When I was called up, it was always a privilege. It is my country. How can I not want to play for them? If I get a chance to speak to these guys, my message would be clear and simple.

“They need to give this some thought. I think they have let other people influence this decision, but, and I am talking from experience, those people you won’t find them anywhere near you when your football career is over.

“They have this life of glamour right now where they earn big money as footballers, but there is a serious life after that when you are done playing. The foundation starts now, and this decision shouldn’t be part of that foundation. The next phase of life will be affected.

“Serero is such a fantastic player, and I am a huge fan. We are talking about a player that has played for Ajax and in the Champions League. But he is at Vitesse Arnhem now and he is taking such a decision? There’s a big difference between those two clubs. There are so many players who played at Ajax that never asked for guarantees.

“I know I will be unpopular for saying this, but how can a player who is at Arnhem make such a decision? I’m going to get nailed for this, but he and Rantie should have sought better advice,” he concluded.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix

-This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za