Cape Town City defender Taariq Fielies was philosophical about missing out the Bafana Bafana squad over the past international break.
Fielies has been a stand out player for City over the past few seasons, and was touted by many pundits to be included in Molefi Ntseki’s squad.
Bafana drew 1-1 with Ghana at home, and lost 2-0 to Sudan away to end their hopes of going to the Africa Cup of Nations final in Cameroon next year.
Fielies was speaking to Rob Delport in Edition 12 of iDiski Times and said that he remains optimistic, and perhaps this just wasn’t his time.
“Ja, obviously every player plays to, and wants to, represent the country,” Fielies told iDiski Times.
“And I think maybe it wasn’t my time yet to be part of the team. I’m not disappointed at all, maybe there are things for me to also improve on, so that I have to work on what he wants in his squad. So ja, I’m not disappointed.”
“I’m still going to remain working hard and then possibly everything has its time. There is a plan for everything, so yeah, maybe the time wasn’t right now, but eventually the time will be perfect. And then I’ll be ready for it.”
Fielies’ City teammates Thabo Nodada and Craig Martin were called up, however neither played in either game, and the defender was particularly delighted for Martin who received his first ever call up. Fielies says Martin’s story is inspirational.
“Ja, it really is, from where he comes, the sacrifices that he had to make to get to where he is today, it’s a lot. He is the perfect example of someone that never gives up and wants to give more, wants to do more, wants to achieve better things and wants to have a better life. And so ja, I think he is the perfect example for many footballers growing up in the Cape Flats.”
The full interview with Taariq Fielies is available in the Edition 12 of iDiski Times.