Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos recent comments over Gift Links have been met with a response from his representatives amidst his constant exclusion from the senior national team over the last four years.
Links, 26, last featured for the national team four years ago in a 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe which was the opening 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Broos’ tenure.
He returned back to his club AGF in the Danish Superliga with an injury from that game and missed their next six games in all competitions as an ankle injury he suffered prior to the camp was worsened during the qualifier.
Links was one of many players who were part of a squad revamp, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Ethan Brooks, Sipho Mbule and Luther Singh among those who were out in the cold after those qualifiers.
While Mbule has since made a return to the fold, Links – who has been a standout player in the Superliga for AGF for the past four seasons, was described by Broos as a player ‘not at the level for the national team’.
The statement has surprised many, with several Danish media outlets constantly questioning Links’ lack of involvement in the national team, while looking towards local media for explanations.
Broos has never spoken, visited, nor watched Links in a live game before – and the decision or opinion leave many unanswered questions, as his performances never warranted the label given last week.
iDiski Times reached out to Links’ representatives at SSG to find out more about the situation, given the blunt and out of line statement from the national team head coach.
Paul Mitchell, FIFA Agent said; “To be honest, we found the comments ‘bizzare’ to say the least and we felt it was very uncalled for and unprovoked.
“Gifty when not picked for a Bafana squad previously, has never once spoken in the media, complained publicly and has always been the upmost professional, so to hear such comments, well, it’s very disappointing, Gifty was upset to be honest and rightly so, he doesn’t understand why such things would be said”.
“To talk about levels, that’s not an argument we would want to get into, but I think we will all agree that any South African player, would love to be part of a league, with the level of the Danish Superliga, week in week out.
“Gifty has been outstanding for AGF over the past seasons, this is his sixth season, his data and Man of the Match performances speak for themselves, but to say he doesn’t have the level!! I’m sorry, it is a ‘miles off the mark’ flippant comment.
“He has a great reputation not just in the City of Aarhus, but within the Danish Football fraternity at large and the Danish media.
“There has been talk that on Gift’s first appearance for the national team under the current Coach, the perception from the medical team, (when he asked to come off at half time) was that he was not actually injured, well on return to Denmark he was out for three months with ligament damage, so if that is true, then it is also hard to fathom.
“At the end of the day in any team, club or national team, it is a coach’s prerogative who to select, this is no different in South Africa, however, to hear such comments is very disappointing for any player.
“This is not about Gifty’s non-inclusion, but more so about the disrespect shown on this occasion, when all Gifty has been doing, is working hard, playing very well, carrying himself in the right way, and pathing the way with his success, for other SA players to potentially follow in his footsteps in Denmark.
“If the comments were based on his performances in Denmark, that had been watched live by members of the Technical Team, then fine, but we all know that none of the players outside of South Africa, have never been watched live at any time.
“Hopefully, a line can be drawn on this now. Gifty and AGF are fighting to win the league this season, his concentration is obviously on that, he supports the NT always and will continue to do so.”
