Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki insists he didn’t say that midfielder Bongani Zungu will never play for the national side again after the two had a public falling-out following Zungu’s omission from Ntseki’s last squad.

The France-based midfielder was omitted from the Bafana Bafana squad scheduled to face Sao Tome and Principe in back-to-back 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before the games were curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Zungu took to social media to respond to the decision, saying he was not told that he was being dropped or given any reason for his omission.

The spat caused a media stir, with Safa president Dr Danny Jordaan having to step in as mediator.

With Zungu and Ntseki set to meet to discuss the situation when it’s safe to do so, Ntseki told IOL Sport that he doesn’t have a personal vendetta against the midfielder.

‘I kept on saying Zungu is like any other South African player that is eligible to play for Bafana Bafana. I never said Zungu will never play for Bafana Bafana,’ Ntseki said.

‘But in terms of our selection criteria, everything that has to do with the game itself – the challenges, preparations and travelling – we felt certain players shouldn’t be part of that team and certain players should be selected for that camp,’ he added.

‘I don’t have anything personal against anybody. If I have to draw up a list of players that were supposed to have been selected and explain to you each why he was not selected, I think, we will talk the whole day. We are also giving too much attention to Zungu not being selected. It disadvantages other players that we are not talking about.

‘Every parent, every South African and every coach would love to see a player of Zungu’s calibre, a player of Lebo Phiri’s calibre and Kamohelo Mokotjo’s calibre doing very well wherever they are,’ Ntseki said.

‘If they play consistently and become winners, they will bring that mentality to the national team.

‘When you see a team like Amiens getting relegated, it’s also not good for our player – in this case Zungu. It’s not a good feeling because it’s on your CV,’ concluded the Bafana coach.