Kickoff (Cape Town)
8 January 2009
Amajita midfielder Sameehg Doutie, one of notable absentees in national team camp preparing for the African Youth Championships in Rwanda, has spoken out about his no-show at coach Serame Letsoaka's camp.
Doutie says personally, he would have wanted to be in camp with his national teammates had his club had not refused him permission to do so.
The Ajax Cape Town midfielder refutes claims that he put yesterday's Cape Town Derby ahead of Amajita's team's preparations, saying the club refused him the go-ahead to report for the Amajita camp.
"I have not reported for the Amajita camp because the club does not want us to; not because I wanted to play in the derby (against Santos)," the winger reveals.
Doutie is one of several players that have failed to report for the National Under-20 camp ahead of the African Youth championships as the club-versus-country furore rears its ugly head again.
The others are Thulani Serero, Kamohelo Mokotjo and Masibusane Zongo from SuperSport United, Phumelele Bhengu and Ramahlwe Mphahlele from Moroka Swallows and Holland-based Kermit Erasmus, who turns out for Feyenoord.
"Definitely, I would have wanted to report for camp and play in the tournament but there is nothing I can do if the club does not release me," Doutie says.
On Tuesday, Safa vice-president and PSL chairman Irvin Khoza sounded a strong warning for the clubs to release the players for national duty or face the consequences.
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