South Africa midfielder Gift Links left in the dark over prolonged exclusion

South African midfielder Gift Links has admitted he is struggling to understand his continued exclusion from the South Africa national football team, revealing that he has received no explanation from head coach Hugo Broos or the technical team regarding his absence.

Despite enjoying consistent form in Denmark with AGF Aarhus, where he has become a key figure and amassed significant experience in the Danish Superliga, Links says his performances have not been enough to earn a recall to the national team.

The 27-year-old, who has reached over 200 appearances during his time in Scandinavia, revealed that his last involvement with the national setup dates back to 2021—and since then, he has been left in the dark about his future with Bafana Bafana.

“No, I have never received any explanation,” Links said on the SoccerBeat podcast. “I was there in 2021, and then I left, and I never heard from anyone. So, that’s how it has been since.”

For the midfielder, the lack of communication has been particularly difficult to process, especially given his belief that clear feedback could have helped him understand where he stands.

“You know, of course, it’s difficult. It’s really difficult for me because if I did something and then I got no explanation, like, ‘Okay, this is what happened,’ then I would understand,” he added. “But the thing is, I went for the national team camp in 2021, and I came back, and I have never been in the squad, even until today.”

Links expressed his frustration at the absence of any feedback from the national team setup, admitting that the uncertainty leaves him questioning whether he may have done something wrong in the past.

“I don’t know why, because no one has ever said anything to me. Maybe I did something wrong,” he said.

Despite the disappointment, Links remains determined to stay focused on his club career, insisting that he will continue working hard and delivering strong performances in Denmark in the hope that opportunities may arise in the future.

“I’m in the dark, and I have no clue; I have zero clues about what is happening,” he admitted. “But it’s football, so I’m not going to dwell on it. All I can do is keep working hard and keep doing what I’m doing in Denmark, and maybe one day things will change.”

For now, Links must continue to wait for answers, as his impressive club form contrasts sharply with his ongoing absence from the international stage.