Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has hit out at US Major League Soccer outfit St Louis City for withholding information surrounding the unavailability of midfielder Njabulo Blom for his country.
Blom hit the ground running in the MLS after making the move from Kaizer chiefs to St Louis City in December and his efforts didn’t go unnoticed as he made the cut for Broos’ final 23-man squad to face Liberia in back-to-back Afcon qualifiers.
the Bafana coach was left fuming after his club were unable to give him information surrounding the problem with Blom being ruled out of last weekend’s game for St Louis against Portland Timbers.
“Njabulo played two games, then he didn’t play against Portland. They (St Louis) said he is sick, we said ‘with what?’ and they didn’t answer,” said Broos.
“So we contacted Njabulo, and he said yes he didn’t feel good, he said ‘I think I have Covid’. Ok, but then you can get a test? Yesterday (Wednesday) we got a mail from St Louis at 5pm telling us that their coaching and medical staff were discussing Blom’s situation. Now, 20 hours later, we still do not have an answer.
“I am angry, ok if he has Covid …. (but) I saw in America next week there is a league game, they play on the 26th. I am afraid they are trying to keep Njabulo there. But that will not happen. We know the rules, if he does not come for the correct reason he will not play for them. We will go to Fifa.”
⏪ 𝕀ℂ𝕐𝕄𝕀 ⏪
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has lashed out at US Major League Soccer outfit St Louis City for withholding information on midfielder Njabulo Blom’s availability ahead of next week’s crucial #AFCON qualifiers against Liberia.#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/qnMH0kIxdp
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) March 17, 2023
Photo by Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix