The Bafana Bafana midfielder has been suspended over a disciplinary issue
South African international Njabulo Blom has been suspended by his MLS club St Louis FC for violating team rules.
Blom, a key figure for the MLS side will not be involved in Saturday’s league clash against Portland Timbers as he serves his suspension.
Head coach John Hackworth shed light on what has landed the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder in trouble, while leaving the door open for his return to the team once he serves his suspension.
“Njabulo has been suspended for the game tomorrow [Saturday]. Violation of team rules but should be good after that,” Hackworth told the press in his pre-match briefing on Friday.
Is it the end for the ex-Chiefs man at St Louis FC?
“For now, it is [one-match suspension]. When a player does something against our standards or rules and there’s a situation like this, the player is always welcomed back because the idea is that they learn a valuable lesson and come back and are even stronger.
“So that is my expectation with him. I feel like I’ve had a really good relationship with him since the day he arrived, it didn’t look that way the other night, so we’re gonna correct that and I don’t think there’s going to be any problems going forward,” the tactician concluded.
Unconfirmed reports claim Blom allegedly refused to join his team on the pitch while they were taking penalties in Monday’s Leagues Cup defeat to FC Juarez.
Blom might find it difficult to return to the team
The clash had ended in a 1-1 draw, forcing post-match shootouts which Juarez won 4-1.
Blom joined St Louis from Chiefs in 2022 under former South African coach Bradley Carnell and has been a key player for the team since securing their promotion to the MLS.
There were fears that he could lose his spot when Carnell was sacked in July but his successor Hackworth has kept faith with him until the latest incident.
The Bafana Bafana midfielder has now put himself in a difficult position following the disciplinary issue which could cost him a place in the team even after his suspension.
