Broos raises injury concerns ahead of World Cup qualifiers

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has highlighted some injury concerns in his squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month. South Africa will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday 7 June in Uyo, Nigeria. Four days later (11 June) Broos and his troops will return home for a clash against neighbors Zimbabwe at the Free State stadium.

The Belgian mentor has confirmed that Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana has been released from the squad after picking up a hamstring injury on duty for Mamelodi Sundowns in their Nedbank Cup final loss against Orlando Pirates on Saturday. Kekana will be replaced by Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango in the team. Broos also highlighted more injury problems for Sundowns players with minor niggles for the likes of Khuliso Mudau, Bathusi Aubaas, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams. 

“Grant left the camp this morning after the medical check of yesterday evening, the doctor couldn’t give us a guarantee that Grant should be ready for the game on Friday (against Nigeria), even worse today and tomorrow he was unable to train, therefore we decided to free Grant to go and we replaced him with Given Msimango from Kaizer Chiefs,” said the 72 year-old coach.

“Second problem is Khuliso Mudau, everybody knows what happened in the final on Saturday but after the medical check yesterday evening the doctor gave me the guarantee, and also the player, that he will be ready on Friday. Third little problem with Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Bathusi Aubaas and Ronwen Williams. Nothing to worry about, the little problems are there but they won’t give us any problems for the game on Friday.”

Broos also highlighted his concerns with the constant injuries of Sundowns players whenever they are called up for national duty, and believes the Mameldi Sundowns medical team should look into the reasons why players are always injured.

“It’s amazing that from the six injured players we have there 6 players of the same team, Sundowns. Sundowns had many injuries this season and everybody knows one of the reasons is certainly the overloaded program. They played a lot of games but what is interesting is that 75% of the injuries are groin and hamstring injuries, and I think there has to be something more than that. I hope that the medical staff of Sundowns can find the reasons 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 8, Champions League, there is even the World Cup for clubs at the end of the season, and I am a little bit worried because in September, October, November we have probably the qualifiers for AFCON, imagine that the same situation is what it is today and that I have to miss six players. Everybody knows that the basic of Bafana Bafana is Sundowns players,” the Belgian tactician concluded.