Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has spoken openly stating what has left him confused about the Lyle Foster situation.
Burnley striker Foster missed AFCON as he was still recovering from mental issues after undergoing therapy sessions since October.
He had only returned to action in December last year, however, the Clarets noted in the medical report that the 23-year-old wouldn’t be at AFCON due to medical reasons.
And according to Broos, Foster also wrote a letter, saying that he mustn’t be called for the tournament. He had been called in the preliminary squad but was cut out when the final squad was picked.
Asked by the media about the absence of the former AS Monaco man at AFCON, the 71-year-old tactician said he was understanding Foster’s issue at first but he’s now surprised and “frustrated” seeing how much the Soweto-born has been featuring for his club in the Premier League.
He feels Bafana could have also used him at the continental showpiece having seen him playing 90 minutes in some matches in England.
HUGO BROOS CONFUSED WHEN SEEING LYLE FOSTER FEATURING REGULARLY FOR BURNLEY
“Honestly, I’m not happy. I knew from the beginning what the problem was, I knew and I was understanding,” said Broos.
“I talked a few times with [Vincent] Kompany and I really understand what the problem was. Our doctor talked with the doctor of Burnley, we put everything together and we said yah okay it’s not good to call Foster.
“Certainly, Lyle himself wrote a letter saying, ‘Please don’t call me, I don’t wanna come. I’m not ready to play in the AFCON’.
“Okay, but then he starts playing and he plays every game, 90 minutes and it’s not week and week in England. He plays also several games in a week. And then I’m asking myself why it wasn’t possible that he came with us to Ivory Coast.
‘I WILL NOT BLAME SOMEONE’
“And this is my frustration now a little bit and I will not blame someone. I will not blame Burnley; I will not blame Lyle for that. But I’m frustrated when I see that because we could use him.
“He’s a good striker, he scores. We should [have had] Lyle with us. I’m frustrated now when I go and see and immediately the line-up, oh Foster played 70 minutes, oh Foster played 90 minutes.”
In addition to Foster’s absence, South Africa were also dealt with another blow ahead of AFCON, losing Lebo Mothiba after he underwent surgery in his knee.
“But okay it is what it is and then it was not only Lyle. Then you lose Lebo [Mothiba] also. You lose your two standard strikers before you start AFCON, it was not a good situation.”
RELATED STORY: Broos opens up on coming close to ‘quitting’ Bafana and why he continued
