Legends weigh-in on May debacle

John "Shoes" Moshoeu and Lucas "Rhoo" Radebe say the May Mahlangu fiasco could have been handled better.

The Bafana Bafana legends who, like Mahlangu, were based in Europe during their playing days, said Mahlangu - who has now been barred from the national team after withdrawing from Afcon duty - should have negotiated a "win-win" situation with coach Shakes Mashaba.

"We don't know the full story. What we know is what is on the record right now, but as a player you don't ignore a national team call-up," said Moshoeu, who earned 73 caps.

"But players are their own doctors because they know how much their body can take. Maybe the coach and the player could agree on how he can be used while he is with the team. Perhaps be given 30 minutes on the pitch instead of 90. He's been banned. For what?"

Moshoeu, who spent a decade with various clubs in Turkey, said the Mahlangu debacle won't be the last a Bafana coach has to deal with.

"This has been happening for a long time, even in our time. I remember when Lucas [Radebe] was struggling with a knee injury in England and the team doctor had to visit him there to see if he can be available for the national team. I say meet the player halfway."

Radebe weighed in yesterday: "You can't decline a call-up. Whether you are available or not is the coach's decision. The player might have only been included in the team as back-up," said the man who made 70 Bafana appearances.

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