With the debate ongoing about Lyle Foster missing the Africa Cup of Nations, former Bafana Bafana defender Lovers Mohlala is in full support of the player's decision.
Foster has appeared to be enjoying his football again, having featured in the last five matches for Burnley FC in the Premier League as the team has been trying to move away from the relegation zone.
Prior to him returning in the match against Everton in December, Foster had been out of the team for seven consecutive league matches.
It was announced by his club and coach Vincent Kompany in November that the striker had been dealing with issues to do with mental health.
Foster has contributed to seven goals for Burnley so far this season, having scored four and bagged three assists in the process.
The former Orlando Pirates player's presence for Bafana would have been an advantage as he has been enjoying form in his first season in the Premier League but it wasn't to be as Hugo Broos was forced to leave him out of the 23-man squad to Cote d'Ivoire due to a health scare. There would also be a sense of 'what if?' since South Africa did miss Foster in their opening game, where they lost 2-0 to Mali on Tuesday night.
The Good
"If Lyle Foster decides not to play for the country that is not a problem because it is his right to do so. Some of us played for South Africa in our careers, and does SAFA take care of us after we retire? Do all of us who played for South Africa get to pay for entrance at the stadiums when the national team is playing? It's all about each man's decision on how to deal with the situation and that's why I don't blame Lyle Foster when he decides not to play for the national team," said Mohlala.
The Bad
"After you retire, they don't even think about you at SAFA as someone who has played for the national team. Why is the focus only on Foster and not (Lebo) Mothiba who is another player playing overseas and is not part of the current Bafana squad? The guy is playing in France and not much is being said about him," he said.
The Ugly
"Why are we not talking about the coach and selectors who have selected players that are not playing regularly for their respective teams? When was the last time Siyanda Xulu played regular club football? Are we choosing players on merit or based on their facial appearances? We cannot blame Lyle Foster for choosing not to play for the national team because some of us cannot even get a ticket to watch a Bafana match despite having played for the national team," he added.
"Foster doesn't owe the country anything"
"To my brother Lyle Foster, you don't owe the country anything. If football in the country was run properly, I wouldn't be talking like this about the situation. Some of us are good examples of how things have been done wrongly from a long time ago. Only two or three former national team players get the tickets to watch Bafana when the team is playing. Imagine playing for the national team and only to come and pay to watch them after you retire, it doesn't make sense," concluded Mohlala.
How will Bafana do at AFCON considering they lost their first game?
