I read with great sadness the article on Tokelo Rantie's continued absence from pre-season training posted on Sowetan Community News. I can understand that Tokelo is disappointed with his lack of first team opportunities at AFCB and his injury in the FA Cup Third Round at Birmingham was a major disappointment for him and fans alike. Back in South Africa now, his continued refusal to meet up with Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall in the USA for pre-season training, according to the article. This would only be likely to harm his chances of finding a swift exit from the Cherries' hold on him.
Apparently Tokelo has not found it at all easy to settle in England and wants to remain in South Africa, according to the local newspaper article, even though the clubs there could not afford his transfer fee. There was interest from European clubs last January and if he could get himself fit this summer he could easily engineer himself a move. For AFCB though that might only be a loan spell at another English club and perhaps that is not what Tokelo is striving for.
Either way, he needs to talk to AFCB and sort out his future. It is a waste of talent for him not to be plying his trade with a team that can benefit from his services. Bafana Bafana also start playing their World Cup Qualifiers in October and he needs to be happy in what he is doing by then to give of his best for his national team.
If AFCB can sort out a move for Lee Tomlin then you would think they could put Tokelo Rantie's best interests at hear and find him a club that he wants to play for if he can't fit in at Dean Court. Leeds Utd are said to be interested in signing Tokelo.
Update
Rantie's Twitter feed has had a lot of support denouncing Soweto Community News as writing lies. I asked Tokelo Rantie to respond but received no answer. It is good to see there is a lot of good will for Rantie from AFCB fans and it is quite possible that like Max Gradel's rehabilitation in the Ivory Coast, Eddie Howe and AFCB have given permission for Tokelo to recover in South Africa.
Former AFCB player news
Congratulations to Jayden Stockley who scored his first goal for Aberdeen yesterday in a 3-0 win over FK Ventspils.
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| Tokelo Rantie is still under contract as an AFCB player until August 2017. |
Either way, he needs to talk to AFCB and sort out his future. It is a waste of talent for him not to be plying his trade with a team that can benefit from his services. Bafana Bafana also start playing their World Cup Qualifiers in October and he needs to be happy in what he is doing by then to give of his best for his national team.
If AFCB can sort out a move for Lee Tomlin then you would think they could put Tokelo Rantie's best interests at hear and find him a club that he wants to play for if he can't fit in at Dean Court. Leeds Utd are said to be interested in signing Tokelo.
Update
Rantie's Twitter feed has had a lot of support denouncing Soweto Community News as writing lies. I asked Tokelo Rantie to respond but received no answer. It is good to see there is a lot of good will for Rantie from AFCB fans and it is quite possible that like Max Gradel's rehabilitation in the Ivory Coast, Eddie Howe and AFCB have given permission for Tokelo to recover in South Africa.
Former AFCB player news
Congratulations to Jayden Stockley who scored his first goal for Aberdeen yesterday in a 3-0 win over FK Ventspils.
I can understand his frustration, and also read elsewhere that he wants to return to South Africa (was he not happy in Sweden?). He has been with us for almost three years now, when does his contract expire?
ReplyDeleteThis situation reminds me of Gareth O'Connor at Burnley around 10 years ago, he was never going to get into the team and let himself get unfit. Burnley then sent him out on loan to us and to Luton but he was in no physical shape to take advantage of the opportunities and ended up returning to Ireland. A sad end to a career which included dominating Lincoln in *that* playoff final. At least he never went walkabout like Tokelo.