South African national team coach Hugo Broos has replaced midfielder Njabulo Blom with Orlando Pirates’ Miguel Timm for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Liberia. Broos made the decision after receiving a medical report that stated Blom was not able to play and travel. The 23-year-old midfielder was one of eight foreign-based players called up for the qualifiers. He recently joined St. Louis City SC from Kaizer Chiefs.
When Broos announced the squad, he expressed dissatisfaction with Blom’s club. He questioned why the player couldn’t travel and said there was poor communication from St. Louis City SC. The Bafana mentor had immediate contact with the club, but they failed to provide a clear response on Blom’s condition.
However, on Friday, St. Louis City SC Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel responded to Broos’s rant, saying Blom was not in the right condition to travel. “Njabulo has been off sick since last week,” he told iDiski Times. “He has been in bed over the past few days, he hasn’t left his house, and is unable to train. He is simply not in the right condition to travel 15+ hours. This is exactly what we told SAFA. They cannot expect us to put him on a plane when he hasn’t even come out of bed because there is a risk he might infect others.”
South Africa will host Liberia on Friday, 24 March, at Orlando Stadium in Soweto and play again four days later on Tuesday, 28 March, in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. South Africa is currently second in Group C with six points, while Liberia is third with four points. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the Afcon finals, which are scheduled to take place in Cameroon early next year.
Broos has named a 23-man squad for the qualifiers, including goalkeepers Ronwen Williams, Veli Mothwa, and Ricardo Goss. The defenders are Sydney Mobbie, Innocent Maela, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana, Mothobi Mvala, and Siyanda Xulu. The midfielders are Miguel Timm, Teboho Mokoena, Luke Le Roux, and Sphephelo Sithole, while the forwards are Monnapule Saleng, Lyle Foster, Mihlali Mayambela, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Themba Zwane, Zakhele Lepasa, Percy Tau, and Cassius Mailula.
In conclusion, Broos has replaced Njabulo Blom with Miguel Timm for the upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Liberia after receiving a medical report that stated Blom was not able to play and travel. South Africa will host Liberia on Friday, 24 March, at Orlando Stadium in Soweto and play again four days later on Tuesday, 28 March, in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the Afcon finals, which are scheduled to take place in Cameroon early next year.
Main image: TimesLIVE
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