Ntombela offers to end Serero standoff
Ntombela admits to hurt feelings over Bafana snub
Thulani Serero’s decision to snub Bafana Bafana for their World Cup qualifiers against Senegal early this month did not only hurt local fans but it also afflicted his mentor Mike Ntombela.
The Dutch-based midfielder was under the guidance of Ntombela when he launched his football career at a Sowetobased amateur club, Senaoane Gunners, before leaving for Ajax Cape Town in his midteens.
The 27-year-old player told SA Football Association (Safa) that he was only going to honour the national team call-up if guaranteed to play, a demand that also did not sit well with Ntombela.
“It is painful to me that it has gone this way. I take the national team very seriously. Each and every player must play for his country when he is called up. I do not care how big the problem may be but it must be solved,” Ntombela told Sowetan on the sidelines of the launch of the Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge this week.
The Mamelodi Sundowns legend, who previously was Serero’s agent, also registered his desire to play a mediating role to try and make the Vitesse midfielder and Safa bury the hatchet.
“I am hopeful that the issue will be sorted soon. I would like to play a role in making sure that he comes back to play for Bafana again. I have not spoken to him [since the Bafana no-show incident] but I will speak to him in December, once he is back in the country.”
However, Bafana coach Stuart Baxter hinted that Serero’s national team future did not look bright.
“I don’t think anyone is impressed with a player that thinks that if they won’t be selected, they shouldn’t honour a call-up. You can guess what implications that decision will have on his future,” said Baxter before the match against Senegal in Polokwane three weeks ago.