Hugo Broos has raised his concern at the mounting Mamelodi Sundowns players suffering injuries due to a congested fixture schedule as Bafana prepare to face Nigeria and Zimbabwe in two key 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
South Africa will continue their task to clinch qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday when they face Nigeria before hosting Zimbabwe at home on Tuesday.
Broos has raised his concerns at the congested schedule the Sundowns contingent of players have endured with mounting injury reports.
“From the six injured players we have, there are six players from the same team, Sundowns.
“Sundowns had many injuries this season and everybody knows one of the reasons is certainly the overloaded program,” Broos said.
“They played a lot of games but what is interesting is that 75% of the injuries are groin or hamstring injuries and I think there has to be something more to that.
“I hope, I hope that the medical staff at Sundowns can find the reason for that because next season it will be exactly the same.
“They will have the same overloaded program. They will play PSL, they will play MTN, they will play the Champions League, there is even a World Cup full of clubs at the end of the season and I’m a little bit worried because in September, October, and November we have probably the qualifiers for AFCON,” Broos added.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named the 23-man squad to face Nigeria and Zimbabwe in two FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) May 30, 2024
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The Belgian tactician has also urged the Masandwana medical staff to find the cause of many players suffering from soft-tissue injuries.
“Imagine, imagine that the same situation is what it is today and that I have to miss six players.
“Everybody knows that the foundation of Bafana Bafana is Sundowns players, and again it worries me a little bit that we could have a situation in September of having five, or six players we can’t select because of injuries.
“So again, I really hope that the medical staff can find the problem because again the same injuries are coming back even every time groin and hamstring and that cannot be only from overloaded programs.
“So, it worries me a little bit it’s not a problem for now but again we have very important games in front of us and I hope, I really hope that in September, October or November for those important games, we don’t have those problems.”
Defender Grant Kekana is the latest player to pull out of national duty due to injury and was later replaced by Kaizer Chiefs’ Given Msimango.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos concerned with injuries to Sundowns players, says it may be due to overloading.
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) June 3, 2024
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