Following media statements made by Coach Gordon Igesund regarding the National Team call-ups, Kaizer Chiefs’ Executive Chairman Kaizer Motaung would like to place the following on record;

“It is regrettable that someone in a position of great national importance like Coach Gordon Igesund would see it fit to make such ill-advised comments about the Joint Liaison Committee of the PSL and SAFA at SAFA House on 9 May 2013 that I made a commitment to release Kaizer Chiefs players for the COSAFA tournament. This is incorrect as I would never use such a forum to make comments that are Kaizer Chiefs’ specific.

"The JLC is a forum where matters of a generic nature are discussed in relation to the PSL, SAFA and football in general. I am very conscious of this and as a matter of policy refrain from making any club specific comments in that forum. It is therefore disappointing that Mr Igesund would make a statement that is of this nature.

"I am aware that Mr Igesund met with Bobby Motaung, Kaizer Chiefs Football Manager and Stuart Baxter, the Coach, to discuss the release of players prior to the Bafana Bafana trip to Cameroon and Ethiopia. At that meeting it was agreed that certain players had been continually deployed and were clearly over-extended.

"It was advised that they be excluded from the COSAFA squad and it was suggested that U23 players be considered to participate in the tournament. This is what was reported to me after their meeting. We were clearly surprised that Mr Igesund chose Kaizer Chiefs players after this discussion. His comments are unfortunate and I take strong exception to his utterances. I will be writing to SAFA to register my disappointment and trust the matter will be resolved."