Already under severe pressure, with Bafana Bafana on the brink of missing out on a place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), head coach Shakes Mashaba has now also come under fire from one of the country’s brightest young overseas talents.
FC Twente midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo, who has regularly been raved about in the Dutch press, spoke out about the manner in which he is being treated by Mashaba.
Called up for the two recent Afcon qualifiers against Cameroon, the highly promising 25-year-old came all the way from the Netherlands only to spend both games sitting in the stands. He wasn’t even on the bench – and, needless to say, he is fuming.
“He (Mashaba) clearly has a problem with me, it’s a personal thing,” Mokotjo said in an interview with a Dutch newspaper. “He selected me just to silence his critics … everyone wants me to play. I am one of the highest-rated players in South Africa, but he continues to treat me like this.
“He also has a big mouth in the media about me, I’ve had it up to here. Am I still available for the national team? I’ll have to think about it.”
And just to rub it in for Mashaba, Mokotjo returned to his club, went straight into the starting team, and was an influential presence as they came from 2-0 down to defeat Willem II 3-2. - Cape Times