Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter explains why striker Tokelo Rantie has been left out of the national team for their crucial Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Senegal.
The Scottish coach announced his 26-man squad at the Safa House in Nasrec as they prepare for the must-win clash next month.
The Bafana Bafana mentor explained that Rantie was left out of the squad due to him being unhappy with his role in the Bafana Bafana squad, and not because of an injury.
“No‚ he’s available. The last time I was sat here and named a squad I gave the reasons why Tokelo was not in the squad‚” Baxter told TimesLive.
“That was that he’d just come off a three-game suspension [for his club]‚ his coach was playing him as a winger‚ and I wasn’t 100 percent satisfied with his performance against Cape Verde.
‘Given those reasons‚ I had a conversation with Tokelo where he wasn’t that happy with that.
“He was explaining some of the problems he’s had [in Turkey]‚ and how he’s not feeling too good, and he wants some space to think about both his international career and his career in Turkey‚ and if he should try and get back into Bafana or move on.
“So I’ve just decided that this is not the right time [to call him].”
Baxter went on to say that the striker spoke to him about his situation in the squad, and opted to turn down the chance to don the national team jersey.
“When I spoke to Tokelo he was disappointed that he wasn’t called up last time‚” he added.
“And he sent me a text saying‚ ‘Look‚ I think it’s best if‚ no matter how I’m playing‚ I don’t join up in this one’.
“So whether Tokelo in his disappointment doesn’t think he’s ready‚ or whatever‚ that’s his prerogative.
“He’s got the right to say that.
“He’s also got the right next time round to say‚ ‘Look‚ I’m available’.
“And then I’ve got the right to select the squad that I want to select.
“So I don’t want to take things to being categorical‚ but certainly he didn’t feel in the right frame of mind to be in the squad.”
Bafana Bafana will next take on Senegal twice in their must-win Fifa World Cup qualifiers on 10 November 2017, with kick-off set for 19:00.