Shaun Bartlett, Siyabonga Nomvete and goalkeeper, Hans Vonk are yet to report to the South African training camp for the Cup of Nations finals in Mali.
Carlos Queiroz, manager of the South African team, was reluctant to discuss when the three players will arrive.
All players were due to report in camp by January 3rd at the latest.
The Portuguese coach has said that if the European clubs refuse to release his players, he will raise the matter with world soccer governing body, Fifa.
Career threat
In an earlier statement, Queiroz warned that should Barlett or any other player opt out of the Nations
Cuptournament, they will be excluded from the World Cup finals in Korea/Japan.
Under current Fifa rules, clubs are obliged to release their players for international duty two weeks to the start of a continental competition.
Nomvete, who just secured a regular starting place at his Italian Serie A side Udinese, has expressed reservations about playing at the Nations Cup.
He is scared that playing for the Bafana-Bafana in Mali will jeopardise his hard-earned club place.
Heerenveen, the Dutch club that Vonk plays for, is reluctant to release Vonk for the Nations Cup, as he could miss five matches while on national duty.
