Bafana Bafana and Al Ahly attacker Percy Tau has explained why he is unhappy about being dropped from the latest national team squad ahead of two crucial AFCON qualifiers.
With the FIFA international week running from 2 to 10 September, Bafana will play two qualifiers against Uganda (home) on Friday and South Sudan (away) on Tuesday as the quest to make it to the Morocco showpiece begins.
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Head coach Hugo Broos has named a strong 23-man squad that comprises of the likes of Kaizer Chiefs new signing Rushwin Dortley, Thalente Mbatha and Sipho Chaine, both of Orlando Pirates.
Asked about Tau's absence, the Belgian told journalists that he felt the former Mamelodi Sundowns man had been affected by the avalanche of criticism directed at him after his performances at the previous AFCON earlier this year and reports of being unsettled in North Africa.
However, in a recent interview with SNAWA on Metro FM, the player insisted he felt ready to represent the nation and expressed unhappiness with the decision to be dropped.
"To make a decision based on rumours, it did not sit well with me," Tau revealed.
"I respect the coach, he respects me. We have a good relationship as one of his senior players.
"But I've said it to him, I just don't agree with the reasoning behind [being dropped].
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"If you drop me and you say you'll come for the next game based on your performance, then I'll take that any day because I always want to fight for my country.
"It did, and then the reasoning was worse. I was like no, I'm fine mentally, it can't be because of the reports.
"The reports are normal for me, I'm used to it, which are not true."
"So Madala (Broos) has his own ways and he believes the reports. At the end of the day, he is the coach and I respect him for that," he went on.
Kick off for Friday's match at Orlando Stadium is 18:00.