Tim Sukazi addresses Khulumani Ndamane passport dilemma

While announcing his final 23-man squad for Bafana Bafana’s upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the public broadcaster’s headquarters on Thursday afternoon, Broos confirmed he was forced to withdraw Ndamane.

“The intention was to take him with [to face Lesotho and Benin], but suddenly we found out he does not have a passport,” the coach explained, adding that Mamelodi Sundowns centreback Grant Kekana would replace Ndamane.

But barely 24 hours later, Sukazi has thrown a spanner in the works having swiftly ensured the player will have the necessary documents on the day the national team assembles to travel to Polokwane.

“It is a prime requirement when you play for TS Galaxy to have a passport – we are clear on this in our induction program at the start of the season. We are no sure how the process skipped Ndamane. We are a club that takes camps in Europe and were the first ones to open that route for our sister clubs, it means it’s almost compulsory for a TS Galaxy player to have a passport,” Sukazi explained.

“We have already resolved this. Ndamane will have his passport on Monday. We took a view that this is a matter of national interest and coach Broos can have his player in the squad as he wishes.” 

READ: Hugo Broos puzzled by Khulumani Ndamane passport saga

Sukazi believes the 21-year-old should not be denied the opportunity to represent his country over a saga that would have been avoided with better communication.

“It cannot be an excuse for us as a country to say the player can’t be in the national team because of a passport when the match is to be played some six or eight days after the announcement of the squad,” the Galaxy boss added.

“SAFA is a national organisation and belongs to the country. We should not act as though we are in Scandinavia or London or Russia. Why can’t we pause and issue it when it is needed? I must commend the deputy minister [of Home Affairs] Njabulo Nzuza – he was prompt on this matter. This was a matter that could have easily be resolved immediately. The passport will be available, we now leave this in the hands of the national team coach.”