IFK Gothenburg midfielder, May Mahlangu, has pulled out of the Bafana squad, and while my heart disagrees completely with the decision, my head gets it.
I'm a patriotic person, I'm very proud of where I come from and would give everything to represent my country in any way, never mind football. Since moving to South Africa I've taken Bafana Bafana on as my adopted national team, and I feel the same way about them.
With that in mind, it devastates me to see a player like Mahlangu withdraw from the team because he's tired. May has played around 1800 minutes of football for Gothenburg this season, starting 19 games and coming off the bench five times, while I'm sure he's a little bit tired, is it really too much to pitch up for his nation?
As I said on Twitter earlier today, "I can understand a player being tired and not wanting 90 minutes, it happens, but I can't understand him not pitching up at all because of it though..."
It was largely down to the public that Mahlangu was even in this team, Shakes Mashaba had been hounded about why he wasn't selecting the 25-year-old and then when he did, he decides he's not going to bother. He's letting the public down as much as Shakes. One thing is for certain, he should have said something when the squad was announced, not a few days before the first game.
But then again, I'm a rational person, I try and think with my head and take emotion out of a situation. When I do that, and try to stand in May's shoes, I can understand where he's coming from.
Mahlangu is currently in a critical part of his career. Last time the midfield man was on the verge of making a big move, he injured his Achilles tendon and was ruled out for the better part of a year. It scuppered his plans of moving to a bigger, better nation in Europe and set him back more than a few paces in his career.
Now, having finally regained his form after a lengthy rehabilitation process, Mahlangu has once again proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in Sweden and has clubs from a number of countries clamouring for his signature when he becomes free in December.
It was in July of last year that Mahlangu injured his Achilles, 16 months later he's being linked with clubs in Holland, Greece, Spain and England after having had to prove himself in Sweden yet again. If you were him, how eager would you be to risk everything when you're being called up four games into a six game qualification group?
Yes, it should be about pride. It should be about the honour of representing your nation. However, when football is your job, then you also have to look at what is good for your career as well. It's not always a simple yes or no.
As I said, it's easy for people like you and me to say, "I'd always fight for my country", but when it's as much of a business decision as it is a personal one. Would it be so easy?
Mashaba is all about patriotism, something which I admire about him, and I believe that Mahlangu's snub in this case has all but killed his chances of turning out for the nation again while Shakes is in charge, but can we completely vilify a player who may possibly be thinking about short-term pain, long-term gain.
I have no doubt that Mahlangu wants to play for his country (He needs to if he wants to make it to England), but maybe the timing of this call-up is just a little bit too sensitive for him.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know on Twitter: @YesWeCrann
