The ongoing tension between Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and Mamelodi Sundowns counterpart Rulani Mokwena continues to escalate after the latter cited a number of first-team stars to be complaining of niggling injuries.
This after Broos raised displeasure about Mokwena’s decision to tell the media about injured Bafana key players rather than communicating with the national team’s personnel.
The rift between the two coaches, who are tasked with leading two crucial sides in South African football, has been well-documented over the past few months.
Broos has been tasked to lead Bafana’s revival on the international stage while Sundowns contribute the bulk of the senior national team players.
The latest strike on the already strained relationship came after Mokwena told media that some of Bafana’s key players, who have been called into the national team camp for the Fifa Series, are struggling with niggling injuries.
“Ronza (Ronwen Williams) is struggling with a shoulder, and we’ve got a very tough CAF Champions League game. Tebza (Teboho Mokoena) is struggling with a knee injury and has had it since Afcon,” Mokwena told media after the Nedbank Cup 2-0 win over Maritzburg United on Saturday.
“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.”
Williams and Mokoena didn’t feature against Maritzburg as they were rested due to the niggles.
But Mokwena couldn’t say if the injuries were serious enough to rule them out of the Fifa Series in Algeria.
Coach Broos was disappointed to learn through the media that the players, who have been called into the national team, were injured as Sundowns didn’t communicate with Bafana.
“If they are really injured, they have to inform us and not talk with the press,” Broos said.
“I think we have a doctor, they (Sundowns) know that. They have the phone number of the doctor.
“So, why don’t they call us and tell us they are not able (to attend the national team camp) and give us a medical report?
“They didn’t do it, and that means they (players) are fit.
“I’m sorry, I can’t go on rumours saying that coach Rulani or maybe the technical director is telling me they are injured.
“Give me a medical report and then our doctor will decide if they are injured or not.
“I’m very sorry, I don’t like those things of telling the press some things. They have to call us and say ‘Look, this is the problem with the player, and this is the medical report.’ They didn’t do it. So, for me, they are fit. Final,” the Belgian tactician said.
“I heard some rumours and I read something about coach Rulani that said those players are not fit but blah, blah, blah.
“Why is he talking to the press? Why doesn’t the medical staff of Sundowns don’t talk with our medical staff?
“Why don’t they tell them (Bafana medical team) this is the problem, and this is the medical report? And say those players are not fit, but they didn’t, they just talk with the press.
“I’m sorry, I can’t just believe what is in the papers. I think this is something very important and you have to discuss that with the doctors and not in the press. I’m very sorry, but I’m upset.”
Bafana will play their first game against 164th-ranked Andorra at the 19 May 1956 Stadium on Thursday at 23:00, SA time.
Bafana will face off with host Algeria at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday, 23:00 before returning home on the next day.
After a long trip from Johannesburg via Dubia, @BafanaBafana are finally in Algiers, Algeria. The team will play in the FIFA Series in matches against Andorra and hosts Algeria pic.twitter.com/ke5pYCIFqB
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) March 18, 2024
