Ex-Chiefs’ Ertugral schools Turkey’s Sas over AFCON jibe

Former South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs’ Turkish coach Muhsin Ertugral has schooled countryman Hassan Sas on his utterances undermining the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quality.

The South Africa-based former Trabzonspor FC’s assistant manager took to his Facebook page to share his disappointment with Hassan Sas who says teams in Europe are complaining about losing players to AFCON. The Turkish football legend described the players as sub- standard and the tournament as not worth it.

Sas, as quoted by The Sun Football, said: “The Africa Cup of Nations. Everyone in the Premier League, the German league, the French league and the Turkish leagues is complaining.

“The guys have given away 20 million each, transfer fees and everything. The Africa Cup of Nations. There’s nothing but vuvuzelas. The pitches are bad, yellowed. We can’t even pick apart the players; they all look the same, and there is no quality.”

Hassan Sas is considered among Turkey’s football legends from his time at Galatasaray and the national team. He featured at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Muhsin Ertugral reacts to Sas

However, the former Turkish winger’s remarks did not please former Kaizer Chiefs mentor Muhsin Ertugral who accused his compatriot of having limited knowledge of African football and its traditions.

“When I saw it concerning Africa and the AFCON, I wanted to write my own opinion. Of course, the AFCON can be criticized, I think it is necessary and we all criticize, I think it’s natural but shouldn’t it be done with knowledge, observation and respect?” Ertugral wrote.

The man, who was until May 2025 coaching Cape Town City FC, then laid bare the facts about AFCON and the continent’s football in general.

The former Orlando Pirates tactician said Africa deserves respect for producing world-class players such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o Yaya Touré, Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen and Achraf Hakimi.

“Regarding the mentioned vuvuzela, the explanation was unfortunate, not the noise, the voice of collective spirit and cultural identity. Perhaps a little cultural knowledge can enrich. It seems that Galatasaray’s wonderful winning goal was learned yesterday on those aforementioned yellow grounds,” he said.

“A continent with so many stars lowering it to the vuvuzela level, doesn’t it just expose ignorance? Because in my opinion, saying populist words without knowledge is not only a weakness, but it also completely explains that there is no depth to the seriousness of the subject being told.”

The Premier Soccer League’s legendary coach further seemed to suggest that Hassan Sas might have been misquoted.

“Hasan Shaş was a great footballer, someone we all love and respect.

Maybe that’s why I’d like to believe this was a translation error. If one is conscious, it shows that the subject has no depth. I think criticism demands knowledge. If there is no knowledge, what is left?” he added.

All is set for AFCON’s kick in Morocco and it will run from December 21 to January 18.