FRUSTRATION at not being handed the Bafana No 1 jersey drove Moeneeb Josephs to despair, forcing him to seek advice from Orlando Pirates teammate Benni McCarthy, who has also quit the national team in the past.

Josephs told the Bafana technical team to withdraw him from the 2014 World Cup qualifiers next month and not to call again in future.

The Pirates shot-stopper is annoyed at having to play second fiddle to Itumeleng Khune.

Josephs refused to comment yesterday, but his friend and roommate when the Buccaneers are in camp, McCarthy, spoke on his behalf.

"It's plain to see that the manager (Pitso Mosimane) has his own ideas on who to play irrespective of which other goalkeepers are around," said McCarthy, who quit Bafana before but changed his mind.

"The No1 jersey is always taken. And for Moeneeb, once you reach 30 and are not achieving your goals, it's best to stay where you are most happy," he said.

"When he explained his reasons, the man just broke out crying. I tried to put myself in his shoes and I realised if I was in his shoes, I would have done exactly the same," McCarthy said.

"Hopefully it will work out and people will not hate him for it. They must just try and put themselves in that sort of situation as well, especially once you hit 30."

Josephs' situation reached boiling point when Khune was again chosen ahead of him during Bafana's friendly international against Senegal in February at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Mosimane is yet to confirm whether he will call up a replacement for Josephs, but he does prefer having four goalkeepers in camp.

Josephs has requested a meeting with Mosimane, but the coach has, in response, asked the Pirates vice-captain to write a letter to him to explain why he has quit the national team.