Key Bafana Bafana players including captain and incumbent goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba are all nursing injuries ahead of the men's senior team’s much-anticipated Fifa Series fixtures.
This was revealed by Mamelodi Sundowns mentor Rulani Mokwena to detail several notable absentees the Brazilians’ Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash against Maritzburg United.
Sundowns claimed a 2-0 victory, thanks to the second-half brace by Thembinkosi Lorch at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Sunday.
“Ronza (Williams) is struggling with a shoulder, and we’ve got a very tough CAF Champions League game. Tebza (Mokeona) is struggling with a knee injury and has had it since Afcon,” Mokwena said.
“Ronza has had the shoulder problem since Afcon as well and only now we’ve got Mothobi (Mvala) back, Sailor (Khuliso Mudau) back but we still have got a problem with (Thapelo) Maseko, who got an injury at Afcon.”
Despite Mokwena claiming the players have had injuries since Afcon, he used them in Sundowns’ matches in the DStv Premiership and Nedbank Cup.
As Sundowns are always involved in the Champions League and having played in the Africa Football League on top of domestic football, Mokwena has often complained about the massive load his players have to deal with.
“We are trying to work for Sundowns and trying to protect our players as much as we possibly can,” he said.
“So, (we gave them) a rest so that they could lessen the load. You know minus one 90 minutes helps in the schedule and the freshness for the Champions League.
“But it’s not easy at the same time because you have to win games, you can’t say to people that you didn’t have Modiba, you didn’t have Ronza, you didn’t have Tebza and we all know how important these players are for us.
“We didn’t have Lucas Ribeiro today (on Sunday). But it’s good, everybody is fighting and trying to contribute to the story that we are trying to write this season, I’m very proud of them.”
Rulani Mokwena explains why he didn't play Bafana Bafana players against Maritzburg United. pic.twitter.com/9SBqk2zQOk
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) March 17, 2024
The young coach couldn’t say if the injuries would rule out the players for the Fifa Series fixtures against Andorra and Algeria.
But did stress the need to be considerate of the 34-year-old Themba Zwane as he is an important player to Sundowns.
“They were rested because they’ve got niggling injuries, that’s really the truth,” Mokwena said.
“Are their injuries strong enough to keep them away from Bafana? I don’t know, (but) I think as a club we’ve always supported the national team agenda.
“We will continue to do that, but if we can rest Mshishi (Zwane) a bit even though he is suspended for (Champions League game in) Tanzania with bookings, so he is not going to be available for the first leg, but Mshishi is very important for us.”
Bafana coach Hugo Broos has already made some changes to his team after the withdrawals of midfielder Siphephelo Sithole and defender Siyabonga Ngezana.
Sithole was ruled out through injury while Ngezana was withdrawn due to travel difficulties in Romania. They’ve been replaced by Thabang Monare and Siyanda Xulu.
Bafana will play the first match against Andorra at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba, Algeria, on Thursday.
They will wrap up their involvement in the series against the hosts Algeria at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday, 26 March.
Bafana depart for FIFA Series in Algeria
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) March 17, 2024
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