PSL clubs must release players for the U20 Afcon

It’s continental football - the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup - this weekend, and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will be well represented.

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will host Pyramids and Al Ahly in the Champions League semi-final first leg in Soweto and Pretoria.

And that’s not all. Stellenbosch will be away in Zanzibar, Tanzania, tomorrow afternoon to visit Simba SC in the Confederation Cup semi-final first leg.

Of course, as a nation we should be proud of these three teams - they’ve done their best to ensure that the PSL and our nation are well represented.

But let's also acknowledge that the U20 national team will play in the Africa Youth Championship in Morocco in which they’ll face Tanzania, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Zambia later this month,

This is one of the youth competitions that should put the nation into the map, having the U17 national team also did their bit to qualify for the U17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

So, let’s address the elephant in the room. What are these murmurings that Stellenbosch and Pirates might be hesitant to release their players for the U20 Afcon?

I get that the tournament is outside the FIFA calendar, and therefore domestic teams have a say in whether they release their players or not.

But why did Steve Barker, the Stellenbosch coach, say they’ll write to the South African Football Association (SAFA) this week, regarding Lingelihle Phiri?

Stellies, for all their investment in the youth which they sell to big clubs later on, would be expected to use the opportunity very well. But Barker raised some alarms last week.

He said they’ll request that Phiri travels with the team to Tanzania for the match on Sunday, and then report for camp on Monday with the national team.

Barker was leaning on the fact that they are without strikers - following injuries to Ashley Cupido and Bradley Mojela - in recent months.

Sure, making Phiri feel that he’s part and parcel of the team is recommendable from Barker, but there are things that need to be considered - such as eventualities.

Players get injured in major tournaments while they are representing their domestic teams, and that ensures that they do not represent the national team.

So, sure, I get the fact that Stellies are eyeing their best run in continental football at first attempt, but I always feel that national duty should always take first precedence.

Again, (according to U20 coach Raymond Mdaka), he said they'll still need to ask the Sea Robbers whether they'll be able to release Mbekezeli Mbokazi for Afcon.

Mbokazi has been one of the best defenders in the Pirates defence in recent weeks, playing like a seasoned campaigner.

That duly swept people off their feet, and set tongues wagging. His defensive prowess has also been instrumental in making sure that they are where they are right now.

I was at the Pirates game against MC Alger in the second leg of the quarter-final when Mbokazi put up one of his best performances in the Pirates jersey.

So, no doubt this afternoon, he’ll be expected to make sure that he keeps Pyramids players at bay, ensuring that the team takes a huge step into reaching the final.

His involvement in the second leg shouldn’t even be considered at this point, though, as the club should release him for the U20 Afcon with the rest of the squad for preparations.

Mbokazi still has his best days ahead of him, and will probably reach his potential at club level - be it at Pirates or another team (hopefully abroad).

But Afcon should be more important for him at the moment as that will not only ensure he tests himself against his peers, but add a feather in his cap which will ensure he succeeds.