St. Louis City and Bafana Bafana midfielder Njabulo Blom has opened up about missing out on being part of the Bafana Bafana AFCON squad.
Alongside Bongokuhle Hlongwane, the 23-year-old wad a surprise omission from the final 23-man squad that would report to camp on January 4 in Stellenbosch to begin preparations for the AFCON.
READ | Broos explains surprise Blom, Hlongwane exclusions
Blom had been poised to play an integral part in Hugo Broos’ new-look Bafana squad and put in a Man of the Match performance against Eswatini on October.
The midfielder has since opened up on his disappointment.
"It was a a bit hard (to no be part of the Bafana squad) because obviously, I always want to play for my national team, represent my national team," Blom told St. Louis Post Dispatch.
"But if it doesn’t happen, I’m always happy to be here and I know that back home we still have good players, good guys that can perform on a bigger platform like AFCON."
Broos, for his part, argued that the MLS ending in October has presented a challenge of match rhythm for both Blom and Hlongwane, ultimately costing them a place in the final when he spoke to journalists in December.
"The problem with these guys is that they haven’t been playing," Broos said.
"The league (MLS) stopped in October. Okay, they have been training, because Hlongwane is training with Maritzburg United and Blom is training with SuperSport [United] I think, but okay, they don’t play games for two months.
"Don’t forget that AFCON is a very intense tournament, you need the rhythm of the game. It’s possible, but it’s difficult after two months without a game and it will be two months and a half because we only start AFCON (mid-January) and then suddenly, we have to be at a good level.
"I think it is very difficult and for me, it was difficult also to choose [to leave them out]. Yes, I took my decision. Bafana went on to have a historic run in the AFCON that earned them a bronze medal after falling in the semi-finals against Nigeria.
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Meanwhile, Having missed the AFCON, Blom was among the first to return for pre-season training with City.
"To be quite honest, I’m happy to be here with the guys, start the pre-season a bit early," Blom said.
"But obviously, I always want to play for my national team, but I’m still happy to be here as early as possible, just to join the team and for the new season."
Blom is in line to feature when Bradley Carnell’s side takes on Houston Dynamo in the CONCAF Champions League on Wednesday.
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