SOUTH Africa National team coach Molefi Ntseki has confirmed that South African-born Polokwane City goalkeeper Cyril Chibwe has snubbed his call-up after opting to play for Zambia.
According to the Citizen Newspaper, the 25-year old is reportedly going to be part of the Chipolopolo camp next month that will be preparing for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group H qualifiers against Algeria and Zimbabwe to take place on November 11 and 16 respectively.
Ntseki told the Citizen Newspaper on Monday that Chibwe declined his Bafana Bafana call-up for this Sunday’s 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup against Mali in Port Elizabeth.
“We made a small research on Cyril Chibwe from Polokwane City. He is a South African who was born in the North West Province and then we sent a call-up for him to join in for this camp,” he said.
Chibwe joined Polokwane this year from Jomo Cosmos and has made there league starts after eight rounds of matches played in the South African Premier League.
“Unfortunately he will be playing for his father’s country which is Zambia. So he will be joining the Zambian camp.” Ntseki said.
“I think maybe he was approached long before us. Maybe they made the necessary preparations for him to join the Zambian team because I think if he did not have a Zambian passport and they had to do the passport for him and the necessary documents so that he could play for Zambia.”
Chibwe however said it was ot an easy decision to make and was honoured that both countries expressed interest in him but unfortunately he had to choose one country.
“It was which country approached me first and Zambia did just that and I made my choice and I am happy with the confidence shown in me by both teams,” he said.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general secretary Adrian Kashala said a meeting was held with the player and they are just working on some modalities so that he can feature for Zambia.