SA blow chance to train in Spain

Shaun Bartlett has still not confirmed his availability

Mark Gleeson BBC Sport Online in Johannesburg

South Africa's proposed training camp in Spain next week has turned into a shambles with just 13 players being available.

Coach Ephraim Mashaba had invited 23 of the country's European-based players for a get-together in Murcia in an attempt to foster team spirit and get a closer look at players he wants to use in future internationals.

But again Mashaba has been rejected by captain Lucas Radebe and key defender Mark Fish while injury and club commitments rule out the others.

Mashaba refuses to back Radebe

The South African Football Association has made no effort to invite other unheralded players who play in the lower leagues in what would be an ideal opportunity to analyse their potential.

Mashaba has big problems

There is also uncertainty over whether the country's leading goal scorer Shaun Bartlett will also make himself available.

Radebe has not played for South Africa since the World Cup and already had a row with new coach Ephraim Mashaba over his commitment to the South African side.

Bafana Bafana's most capped international has turned down the last two call-ups for qualifying matches for the 2004 African Nations Cup finals.

Goalkeeper Hans Vonk also turned down the call-up and Dutch-based striker Glen Salmon and Bennett Mnguni from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow claim they have been refused permission from their clubs to attend.

Out with injury are Quinton Fortune of Manchester United and the Italian-based Siyabonga Nomvete as well as goalkeeper Emile Baron and young talent Giovanni Rector.

Baron and Vonk's absence means the veteran John Tlale, signed this week at Orlando Pirates, will play in goals in proposed training matches against local club sides.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: John Tlale (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Rostesmash, Russia), Bradley Carnell (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Aaron Mokoena (Germinal Beerschot, Belgium)
Midfielders: Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Josta Dladla (Aarhus, Denmark), MacDonald Mukansi (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), MacBeth Sibaya (Rosenborg, Norway), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Strikers: George Koumantarakis (Preston North End, England), Nkosinathi Nhleko (Brann Bergen, Norway)