Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has revealed what concerns him about the players from Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Broos initially proposed that the PSL season go to the AFCON break much earlier, before Christmas, to allow players who have been selected to represent the country enough time to rest and recover before reporting for camp.
However, the PSL could not come to that agreement with SAFA and DStv Premiership matches played until 31 January 2023.
Broos says although the four days of rest the Bafana players had before reporting for camp in Stellenbosch may be enough for some players, for Sundowns players it may not be enough, as they had a much demanding schedule, travelling all over Africa.
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"I think the four days that the players have been off has been a very good thing, you know a lot of players are exhausted after the last game and they needed that," Broos told SAFA media.
"(But) for some players yes (it may be enough) but for other players it needed to be one week, certainly one week, not only physically but also mentally (to recover). When I think about the Sundowns players, not only in the competition but they had tough Champions League games travelling all over Africa.
"You know its difficult mentally to get back again and for those guys maybe four, five days is not enough. But I look at the good signs and when I compare that with for example in November, yes there is progression in mental and physical recovery," he added.
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The Brazilians, who have ten representatives in the Bafana Afcon squad, have played 30 matches in all competitions midway through the season after their last game of the year against Polokwane City on 30 December.
The Tshwane giants played seven matches and had one game postponed against Moroka Swallows in the month of December.
Bafana will open their Afcon Group C campaign against Mali next Tuesday.
