Aarhus GF star Gift Links has opened up about his continued exclusion from the Bafana Bafana setup, revealing how he has been “in the dark” for years.
The 27-year-old winger has been a consistent performer in the Danish Superliga, yet his name has been noticeably absent from Hugo Broos’ squad selections since 2021.
Despite his consistent evolution in Europe, Links remains the ‘forgotten man’ of the Bafana Bafana set-up. His continued absence from the national squad has left fans questioning the criteria for selection, especially after Broos publicly lamented the need for more South Africans to ply their trade in top-tier foreign leagues.
While the likes of Links, Thembinkosi Lorch, and Luther Singh are active and performing abroad, they strangely remain on the periphery of Broos’ World Cup plans.
Links signed a new four-year contract with the Danish side in July 2025. This deal will see the former PSL star remain at Aarhus GF until June 2029.
In the current campaign, Links has featured in 30 games across all competitions, scoring five goals and contributing six assists in Aarhus GF colours.
To top it off, last month, Links hit a major milestone, reaching his 200th appearance for Aarhus GF in the Danish Superliga.
‘I HAVE ZERO CLUES’: GIFT LINKS
The former Cape Town City FC man stated that he never received any communication from the Bafana technical team or anyone regarding his continued snub from the national team.
“No, I have never received any explanation, you know. I was there in 2021, and then I left, and I never heard from anyone. So, that’s how it has been since,” Links told the SoccerBeat podcast.
“You know, of course, it’s difficult. It’s really difficult for me because if I did something and then I got no explanation, like, ‘Okay, this is what happened,’ then I would understand, you know. But the thing is, I went for the national team camp in 2021, and I came back, and I have never been in the squad, even until today. I don’t know why, because no one has ever said anything to me. Maybe I did something wrong.”
While admitting that the lack of clarity on his Bafana stance is frustrating, Links is determined not to let the situation derail his club career.
“I’m in the dark, and I have no clue; I have zero clues about what is happening. But it’s football, so I’m not going to dwell on it. All I can do is keep working hard and keep doing what I’m doing in Denmark, and maybe one day things will change.”
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