Bafana confirm Radebe axe
LUCAS RADEBE'S international career is hanging in the balance, after South African soccer chiefs confirmed to planetfootball.com that he had been dropped because of his lack of commitment to Bafana Bafana.
Radebe, ironically, is currently out with a knee injury, but he was not even considered for a place in South Africa's latest squad for their game with Burundi - according to the country's director of football Stanley Tshabalala.
Tshabalala, who oversees the national team along with new coach Epharim Mashaba, has made it quite clear that Radebe has let his country down.
"Every time we call on him, all we hear is that he is injured, time and time again," Tshabalala explained.
"We would not mind if he travelled to South Africa and allowed our doctors to examine him, before a decision is made, but this never happens."
Tshabalala, nicknamed 'The Screamer', also confirmed that Radebe's international career could very well be over.
"Mashaba has had enough of Radebe's non-availability, I do not think he will be called up again," he confessed.
"Last year he was injured and Leeds had already given up on him for the season, but he came back over here and we gave him a chance to get fit.
"The Association even made him captain and give him a chance at the World Cup.
"Now when the Association asks for some pay-back, it is back to the same old story of not being available.
"He has upset a lot of people, and the people and the press in South Africa feel that he does not appreciate what his country has done for him."
Mashaba also told planetfootball.com that Radebe was not involved, although he would be drawn on the reasons why.
"All I can tell you is that he is not in the squad, it is as simple as that," he told planetfootball.
The Bafana Bafana take on Burundi on October 13 in their latest African Cup of Nations qualifier and the squad is predominantly made up of domestic-based players.
Charlton's Shaun Bartlett has been included, although there was again no place for his team-mate Mark Fish.
"Shaun has already phoned us and said that he will be coming for the game," confirmed Tshabalala.
Celta Vigo's Benni McCarthy is still in dispute with the SFA over his contract and so he, like Radebe and Fish, is not included.
Bochum's Delron Buckley is named in Mashaba's party, despite being criticised along with Radebe earlier this week.
Squad in full: Andre Arendse (Santos), Brian Baloyi (Kaizer Chiefs), Ashley Makhanya and Tony Coyle (Wits University), Thabang Molefe (SFK Lyn), Aaron Mokoena (Germinal Beerschot), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Russia), Old John Mabizela (Orlando Pirates), Lucky Lekgwathi (Orlando Pirates), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen), Delron Buckley (Vfl Bochum), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates), Goodman Mazibuko (Orlando Pirates), Teboho Mokoena (Jomo Cosmos), Sam Magalefa (Jomo Cosmos), Phumlani Dindi (Dynamos), Japhet Zwane (Moroka Swallows), Shaun Bartlet (Charlton Athletic), Patrick Mayo (SuperSport United), Jimmy Kauleza (Orlando Pirates), Lebohang Kukame (Jomo Cosmos), Hareaipha Marumo (Sundowns).
