Njabulo Blom issues update after pulling out of Bafana Bafana squad
Bafana Bafana midfielder Njabulo Blom has issued an update a week after pulling out of the national team squad for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos expressed anger after he was told that Blom would not make it for the back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Liberia.
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder grafter had been included in the final 23-man squad that played a disappointing 2-2 draw against Liberia at the Orlando Stadium on Friday night.
Bafana threw a 2-0 lead and let the visitors claw back into the game to get a crucial point away from home.
Broos will have to psyche up his charges and get them ready to go and do battle in Monrovia and return with maximum points.
Blom would have been watching the game on television after missing club action for the past two weeks. His absence was due to an undisclosed illness.
The 23-year-old defensive midfielder informed a US publication, St Louis Post-Dispatch, that making a decision to miss the national team camp was hard. But he had to come to that decision as he was still recovering from illness.
BAFANA STAR ON WHY HE MISSED NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
“South Africa is my country. I love my country. It’s every young boy’s or professional player’s dream to represent their country.
“Obviously, I was disappointed that I couldn’t go, but it is what it is,” said Blom.
“I had to sit down and think if it was necessary for me to go to the national team. And I felt like I was sick at the moment, and I haven’t been training.
“I felt it was good for me and the national team to get better and then get good training time. Hopefully, they call me next time,” concluded Blom.
Even though Blom is eager to play this weekend, on Sunday in the MLS against Salt Lake City.
His head coach, Bradley Carnell, expressed uncertainty to St Louis Post-Dispatch about the player’s availability.
As the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has not been in action for 10 days. And might have problems with his fitness level.
CARNELL ON BLOM’S POSSIBLE RETURN THIS WEEKEND.
“He’s been released from the health and safety protocols, which is good news.
“The bad news is he’s missed 10 days. So the depletion of health, fitness, and everything takes a bit of a whack. You have to make sure how you bring Njabulo on.
“So for us, we’ll manage today, we’ll manage tomorrow and make a decision if it makes sense to bring him [to Salt Lake City] or not.
“Listen, Njabulo at 60 per cent. We would still like to see him in some form or fashion. But it’s questionable whether he travels or not,” said Carnell.
The Chiefs academy graduate looks likely to miss the trip to the Salt Lake City on Sunday. St Louis City play Red Salt Lake at 03h00 [South African time] in an MLS match.
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