Cape Town-based former coach Sergio Dos Santos has weighed in on Jayden Adams following a disciplinary issue that saw him being dropped like a hot potato from the latest Bafana Bafana squad.
National team head coach Hugo Broos announced on Monday that he had made the decision to drop Adams from the squad facing Congo in back-to-back AFCON qualifiers, owing to his 'bad behaviour'.
Sources reveal the talented midfielder was a no-show in camp on Sunday, having featured in the MTN8 final for Stellenbosch FC against Orlando Pirates, though his teammate Fawaaz Basadien did report for camp.
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"No one could get hold of him after Saturday's game against Orlando Pirates. Even [on] Sunday morning, the SAFA officials failed to get hold of him. He missed his flight to PE [Gqeberha] and flew back to Cape Town instead," an insider at Bafana camp told KickOff.
Meanwhile, former Chiefs coach Dos Santos thinks with his alleged actions, the player has not only let himself down but also his club.
"Every soccer player's dream is to play for his country," says Dos Santos.
"The player has been selected to be with the squad, and he doesn't turn up for camp. So, the question must be, is there a personal problem with the youngster? If so, what is it? Because it doesn't make any sense.
"Subsequently, since he made that decision, nobody heard anything. He hasn't said anything, and nobody knows what's going on, and the club hasn't said anything.
"So, under those circumstances, it's a very sad state of affairs for him as a young boy with potential, and more importantly, for Bafana Bafana. It's an important time now to come into the squad, and obviously by not making himself available, he has let the team down.
"What Hugo Broos has done it's 100% correct. If you get selected to come to a camp and you don't turn up, and there's no phone call, there's no apology...", he continues.
Dos Says believes the 23-year-old has made a terrible decision, while also hoping the door is not closed for a future Bafana call-up as "he is a very, very good player with lots of potential".
"He is going to regret it if the team does very well and the player that has taken his place impresses. Forget about international scouts. Most importantly, as a young boy, he is letting himself down, he is letting Bafana Bafana down, but even more importantly, he is letting his club Stellenbosch down.
"Stellenbosch has provided him with an opportunity to be where he is now, and he has just let them down also.
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"Let's hope it's not something more serious than we know that has kept him away from camp. We need to wait and see what happens. And if a statement is made, we need to see and hear what that statement is gonna be.
"Other than that, everybody is replaceable. players must understand something, players come and players go, but the structure will always be in place, and there's always somebody waiting for a chance to take your place," concluded the veteran.