SOUTH AFRICA have decided to end their efforts to persuade striker Sean Dundee to join their World Cup squad as he moves closer to an international career with Germany.

South African coach Clive Barker said yesterday he had concluded attempts to convince the 23 year old striker to change his mind and opt to play for the country of his birth during the qualifying campaign for the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

Dundee, who plays for German club Karlsruhe and is the leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga, is hoping to become a naturalised German citizen soon in order to play for Germany in their World Cup qualifying tie against Northern Ireland next month.

The Durban born forward, who came under the watchful eye of Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy for a time, has spurned numerous call ups from South Africa. They have accused the German coach Berti Vogts of poaching the player and putting pressure in Dundee to play for Germany instead of South Africa.