Another confrontation is looming between the South African Football Association (SAFA) and its professional wing, the Premier Soccer League, ahead of the upcoming participation of Bafana Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire next January.
This publication has been reliably informed that coach Hugo Broos has requested the PSL to take their festive break straight after Christmas, but the PSL are adamant that they will honor their programme until the last day of December.
According to Siya sources, the Belgian- born mentor wants the players to be given at least three days after Christmas Day to spend with their families, then assemble on December 30 to start their preparations for the tournament.
"But, with the PSL already lagging behind in terms of their programme due to the participation of Mamelodi Sundowns in the African Football League, the PSL is not prepared to entertain any more delays as they want to finish their programme during May," said our source.
"This does not sit well with Broos, who has implored his employers SAFA to intervene on his behalf. But we all know the frosty relationship between SAFA and the PSL, and this request is unlikely to be entertained," the source added.
Bafana Bafana get the tournament underway on January 16 against Mali at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, in the north of the country close to the border with Mali.
Sundowns, who provides the bulk of the national team players, round off the year with a tricky fixture against Polokwane City on December 30, while Cape Town City face off against rivals Cape Town Spurs on the last day of the year.
