SuperSport United coach, Gordon Igesund, refused to release his national U20 star, Morne Nel on time to travel with the squad to the CAF African Youth Championship in Senegal from March8.
The former Bafana Bafana mentor revealed that he had between four and five players sitting on three yellow cards, which is why he couldn't afford to allow his young midfield germ to travel with Thabo Senong's squad.
Amajita are drawn against Mali, Ghana and Zambia in Group B and will be looking to at least reach the semi-finals that will guarantee automatic qualification for the 2015 U20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand.
Nel featured in Igesund's team against Polokwane City in the 4-1 Nedbank Cup last 32 win this week. Matsatsantsa a Pitori are hosting struggling AmaZulu at Lucas Moripe stadium on Sunday and Igesund will be expecting nothing less than three points from his charges as they climb up the ladder.
Igesund has, however, promised to release the player at least five days before the start of the tournament. Nel isn't the only player that couldn't travel with the team as Bloemfontein Celtic's Clinton Larsen has also decided to hold on to striker, Dumisani Zuma.
Do you think Igesund was right to delay Nel's release to the national team as Senong's team are looking to emulate their younger colleagues, Amajimbos, who recently qualified for the World Cup and reaching the final of the Youth Championship?
Please share your views in the comments section below.
Cheers.
VeeJay
