South Africa manager Molefi Ntseki has claimed that negotiations are ongoing with Rangers and other European clubs, to release players for the upcoming international games.
As things stand, Bongani Zungu will not be joining up with his international team mates for the games against Ghana and Sudan.
This is due to South Africa being on the ‘red list’ of countries drawn up by the UK government and as a consequence, clubs are not obliged to release players – thanks to a FIFA decision.
Ntseki has bemoaned the situation but remains hopeful that he can add to his group for the away game in Sudan, as reported by SA based Despatch Live:
“We have called up 30 players but we have a situation with the European clubs refusing to release players‚ and because of that‚ we will not be replacing anybody until this matter has been finalised.”
“Bongani Zungu is not coming‚ Dean Furman is not coming‚ Thulani Serero is not coming and also Keagan Dolly is not coming.”
“We are still negotiating with the clubs to see if they can release those players‚ and if they can’t come to Johannesburg in South Africa and play against Ghana‚ then they will be able to join us in Sudan.”
“It is very unfair for us to be punished and (for the European clubs to be) saying ‘we cannot release players to come to South Africa because South Africa is a hotspot.”
“I think all over the world‚ everywhere‚ is a hotspot‚ because Covid-19 is all over the world.”
“So for them to not release our players is a very big disappointment for us.”
At this point, it seems unlikely that Zungu will travel, but given the keenness of the SA camp to have their man, there could be a late development.
Zungu was an unused sub in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Celtic but he will be hoping for a start against Cove Rangers when domestic duty resumes in two weeks time.
Steven Gerrard is likely to utilise his squad for the Scottish Cup game, to give a run-out to several players on the fringes of the first team picture.