LUCAS RADEBE has told South Africa to count him out of their next two World Cup qualifying ties, including a vital game with group leaders and main rivals Guinea.

Radebe last month reached a compromise in the long-standing tug of war between club and country by delaying his retire ment from international football but agreeing Leeds United should have first call on his services.

South Africa's next match is against Malawi in Blantyre a week today.

Although Leeds are at Tottenham that day, Radebe will be serving a one match

club ban for collecting five yellow cards.

However, he has ruled out dashing from next Wednesday's Champions League game against Anderlecht in Brussels to face Malawi.

When Leeds were knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool, South Africa tried to persuade them to let Radebe play against Guinea on Saturday, March 10, the date of the sixth round.

Guinea hold a slender one point lead over the South Africans and with just one country to qualify from the group, Radebe was in demand.

However, Leeds secretary Ian Silvester explained last night: "Because we have Champions League games against Real Madrid and Lazio in the weeks either side of South Africa's World Cup qualifier against Guinea, Lucas has told the South African FA he will not be going."

Radebe, who suffers from a knee problem, has heeded medical advice that jetting regularly between England and South Africa could cut his career short.

Updated: 14:18 Saturday, February 17, 2001