Polokwane City FC right-winger Mokibelo Ramabu has voiced his reaction after being denied an opportunity to play for Bafana Bafana.
This comes after Ramabu and his teammate, Rodney Maphangule, were withdrawn from the Bafana CHAN squad set to take on Malawi on Saturday, 3 May 2025.
The duo were part of Molefi Ntseki‘s Bafana CHAN squad announced Saturday, 26 April 2025.
But they won’t be available as Bafana play their first-leg of the final round of the CHAN qualifiers against Malawi at the Republic Stadium in Lilongwe at the weekend.
The return fixture between the nations will take place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, 11 May 2025.
Rise and Shine instructed the two players to leave their flight at the Polokwane International Airport just ten minutes before takeoff. This decision is reportedly influenced by the club needing the duo for their Betway Premiership tie against AmaZulu FC at Zwelithini Stadium on Friday.
Ramabu and Maphangule were supposed to fly to Johannesburg to join the rest of the Bafana squad.
The Bafana players assembled for camp in Johannesburg on Monday, 28 April. The SA national football team is scheduled to jet off to Malawi on Thursday, 1 May 2025.
WHAT MOKIBELO RAMABU SAID ABOUT BAFANA BAFANA WITHDRAWAL
The 27-year-old has spoken publicly for the first time since his Bafana withdrawal by the Rise and Shine. He stated that “it is not the end of the world”.
In an Instagram post, the player attached his pictures in action for PLK City, accompanied by the Bafana CHAN squad list that was announced by Ntseki last weekend. This was his first national team call-up in his football career.
“It is not the end of the world. My boy [referring to himself], you have been fighting your whole life,” said Ramabu.
“You are not going to give up now because there is a lot on your plate. You have got to keep going; only God knows.”
Plk City teammate and Bafana Bafana star Oswin Appollis commented on the post by Ramabu, saying, “With you, my g. We remain silent.” Stellenbosch FC’s Sanele Barns also offered support, saying, “We keep going, my dawg.”
In the current campaign, Ramabu has featured in 24 games across all competitions for the Limpopo club. From those 24 matches, the player scored three goals and provided one assist.
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