News: Parreira Upset With SAFA

World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira took a swipe at his South Africa employers on Thursday after a failing to secure players called up for an international against Botswana on Saturday.

Parreira called up 18 home-based players for the semifinal of the regional Cosafa Castle Cup in Atteridgeville, near Pretoria, but has had to make six changes to his squad after two clubs refused to release their players.

Major clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows said they would not allow their players to take part as they have a cup match scheduled the same day.

This is despite the South

African Football Association having previously asked the Premier Soccer League not to schedule any major games on the same weekend.

“It will be a big shame of the country does not realise were its priorities lie for the next two and a half years,” said Parreira, referring to South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup finals.

The Brazilian, who took his native country to the World Cup title in 1994, was brought in by South Africa at the start of the year to build a competitive team for the 2010 tournament.

“South Africa football needs to get it’s priorities right. I am angry, unhappy and disappointed about this lack of co-operation. These matches are vital for me to identify new talent for the future,” he said on Thursday.

“There is a matter of principle at stake. I have come here not for the money but for professional work and the challenge and to do well in 2010 we must take advantage of all the international matches we have.”

The South African Football Association had asked for the September 28 date for the match against Botswana, hoping to take advantage of the fact the league might be able to switch around League Cup first round fixtures, scheduled for this weekend and next.

It requested clubs with players called up by Parreira be scheduled to play next week, but despite initially agreeing, the league went ahead and scheduled Chiefs and Swallows, who have key players in the squad, on Saturday anyway.