The South African Football Association (Safa) placed a gag at Tuesday's media briefing on discussing the controversial and emotive issue of South Africa playing Egypt in next month's Nelson Mandela Challenge game at the austere Griffin Park Stadium on the outskirts of London.
"It's a decision that has been made," said Safa CEO Raymond Hack in regard to the November 15 game going on at lowly Brentford's 12 000 seater stadium, "and whether right or wrong, it will serve no purpose debating the pros and cons of the matter at this juncture."
The silence was equally deafening when the issue of Benni McCarthy's continued absence from the 18-man Bafana Bafana squad was revealed by joint caretaker coaches Pitso Mosimane and Khabo Zondo - with the prodigal Blackburn Rovers striker still apparently privileged in deciding when and if he wishes to play for South Africa again.
In other respects, however, a couple of relative old hands have been recalled in the shape and form of Sibusiso Zuma and Elrio van Heerden after their protracted absence through injuries N and a surprise new name was also added to the Bafana roster in 19
year-old Newcastle United midfielder Matthew Pattison.
"I have been watching the youngster for some time," said Mosimane,"and we don't want to lose him to England or another country as has happened with a number of other South African-born players.
For the rest, Mosimane declared the Bafana squad was "the strongest available", although South Africa's other prodigal soccer son, Quinton Fortune, is again an absentee along with McCarthy; Dillon Sheppard is injured and Bradley Carnell has been left out because he is suspended from the next African Nations Cup qualifying encounter.
Orlando Pirates left-back Lucas Thwala has been chosen as a stand-in for Carnell and Strabourg-based Katleho Mphela joins Zuma and Siyabonga Nomvete as one of the three strikers.
Jeffrey Ntuka of Belgium club Westerloo and Golden Arrows' Mlungisi Gumbi are other somewhat unexpected newcomers.
"It must be our prime objective right now to win as many games as possible," said Mosimane, "in order to restore the reputation and stature of South African soccer to a respectable level.
"After beating Zambia in the recent African Nations Cup qualifier," added the Bafana coach, "South Africa's Fifa ranking improved from 76 to 65 Nand a victory against African Nations Cup champions Egypt would provide a further boost."
The Bafana Squad"
Goalkeepers: Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rowen Fernandez (Kaizer Chiefs).
Defenders: Ricardo Katza ( SuperSport United), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers), Siphiwe Mkhonza (Kaizer Chiefs), Jeffrey Ntuka (KVC Westerloo, Belgium), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates).
Midfielders: Steven Pienaar (Borussia Dortmund), Mlungisi Gumbi (Golden Arrows), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Free State Stars), Gert Schalkwyk (Kaizer Chiefs), Matthew Pattison (Newcastle United), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge, Belgium).
Strikers: Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Siyabonga Nomvete (Aalborg, Denmark), Katleho Mphela (Strasbourg, France). - Sapa