SAFA boss irked by PSL fixture schedule ahead of AFCON

Without mincing his words, SAFA boss Danny Jordaan is irked by the PSL fixture schedule which makes It difficult for Bafana Bafana to prepare for AFCON.

The SAFA president, Jordaan believes the PSL must allow Bafana players to have enough time to get ready for the AFCON tournament.

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As things stand, the last PSL game of the year is scheduled to be played on December 31 and this makes it difficult for Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

Jordaan is irked because the league’s governing body, PSL is not postponing league matches later this month to allow players to rest.

The seasoned SAFA boss and administrator says his organisation will be blamed when Bafana doesn’t perform well in the upcoming AFCON tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.

SAFA BOSS IRKED BY PSL FIXTURE SCHEDULE AHEAD OF AFCON

Preparing for AFCON, Bafana are set to face Lesotho behind closed doors before jetting out of the country to West Africa – an irked Jordaan says the move is aimed at not overloading the players who are already tired.

iDiski Times reports that the country’s football governing body, SAFA has dispatched many letters to acting PSL CEO Mato Madlala but all in vain.

To see league matches played on Christmas Eve is the first time in the PSL, which has irked the association led by Jordaan.  

“There are no [available] facilities in [the] country,” explained Jordaan to iDiski Times.

“TUKS in Pretoria was fully booked and the one in Potchefstroom was also.

“From South Africa, there is a direct flight to Ivory Coast. There is no point in going to Qatar or Saudi Arabia. Of course, you can go there, but one thing the players don’t need is more travelling before the tournament.

“And the PSL did not want to give the players off, the players are finished. When they can’t perform at the AFCON, [everyone will be saying] ‘it is SAFA, SAFA, SAFA, SAFA’.  

“I’m tired of this campaign already. But what I’m saying to you there is the CEO of SAFA [Lydia Monyepao], phone her.”  

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The 2010 FIFA World Cup LOC member, Jordaan adds that some of the teams heading to AFCON are already on a break preparing for the continental tourney.

“Most of the other [African] federations, the players are having a break already,” adds SAFA boss Jordaan.

“Our players are going to be tired. But the one in Stellenbosch – they have masseurs, gym sessions, revitalisation programs, medical facilities, and all those things.”  

Meanwhile, The South African reported that coach Broos will name his final Bafana squad on December 28 – he will camp in Stellies from January 4 until the ninth.

Bafana will face Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia in Group E and the tournament will be played between January 13 and February 11.

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