Moeneeb Josephs has sent out a statement regarding his withdrawal from the current Bafana Bafana squad, and his retirement from international football.
His Orlando Priates teammate Benni McCarthy has offered The Star an explanation, saying he believes Josephs is not being given a fair opportunity to fight Itumeleng Khune for the Bafana number-one jersey.
“Moeneeb is a great professional and if I was in his situation I would have done the same thing,” McCarthy told the newspaper.
“You do everything possible to fight for the number one spot, but you know yourself you are never going to get the number one, because it’s fairly clear it’s Itumeleng Khune.
“He’s [Khune] a great goalkeeper who’s worked hard and put himself there … [but] in this country there are a lot of great goalkeepers and you have to make it open for everyone to fight for the number one.
“It’s clearly not like that, it’s plain to see that the manager has his ideas of who is the number one, irrespective of other great goalkeepers around,” he says.
McCarthy says Josephs was was reduced to tears by the difficulty of his decision: “I think it’s sad he has pulled out of the national team, he’s an absolute gem … I understand Moeneeb’s issues and hopefully it will work out for the best and people won’t hate him.”
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Joseph’s statement, however, makes no mention of competition within Bafana. Josephs cites family commitments and past injuries, and says he wishes to “step aside” to make way for “the fantastic young goalkeepers in our country”.
Josephs’ statement in full:
I have been fortunate to be a part of the South African national football team for the past nine years. I have represented South Africa on 22 occasions. On each of these occasions I have been proud and honoured to represent our Rainbow Nation.
It is with a heavy heart, and after careful consideration and discussion with both my family and manager, that I have elected to retire from international football with immediate effect.
At the age of 32, keeping in mind the injuries that I have sustained, together with my desire to prolong my career, and considering the fantastic young goalkeepers in our country, I believe that it is the correct time to “step aside”.
In addition, I have spent very little time with my family in recent years, and I believe this decision will give me the opportunity to do so.
I would like to thank Safa and all the managerial coaching staff for the honour and privilege they have afforded me by representing our national soccer team.
I wish Pitso and the boys all the very best in their upcoming qualifiers!
Moeneeb Josephs
The Guardian 