Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena confirmed to media on Monday morning that Uruguayan striker Gaston Sirino has been sidelined with a calf injury.
Three weeks ago, Sirino broke his nose in the club’s CAF Champions League group stages opener against Al Hilal and was forced to miss a few matches.
Mokwena said the 31-year-old midfielder played in a friendly match recently, but injured his calf muscle, which should see him miss the Nedbank Cup round of 16 game against ABC Motsepe League outfit Mathaithai FC on Tuesday plus the vital Champions League return leg with Al Ahly on Saturday.
“Sirino, unfortunately, had a relapse,” coach Mokwena told journalists.
“It’s still the same (with the injury list). We will take a long time if we go through it, the status quo hasn’t changed. The doctors will assess some of the players.
“Maybe only Gaston is now back onto that list having suffered a calf strain in a friendly match on Saturday – that has set him back a little bit after he was recovering from the broken nose incident.
Gaston Sirino has suffered a relapse, Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena confirmed to the media on Monday morning. #SLSiya
— Soccer Laduma Local (@SLLocal) March 7, 2022
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“Even while he was still getting accustomed to playing with a mask, now unfortunately he has suffered another setback.”
The coach, further, confirmed the seven players who were nearing full fitness again after injury layoffs, namely – goalkeeper Denis Onyango, new signing Erwin Saavedra, Rivaldo Coetzee, Pavol Safranko, Mosa Lebusa and Gift Motupa.
“But Kennedy (Mweene) has proven that when given a chance you have to take it,” Mokwena said of replacement keeper Mweene.
“That goes for everybody else. We don’t focus too much on who is out, but a lot more on who is available and given them our energy, confidence and belief to carry on and take the baton to continue with this relay,” added Mokwena.
