Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has questioned the medical staff of Mamelodi Sundowns after expressing his dissatisfaction with the team’s ongoing injuries.
Broos was addressing the media at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto ahead of their Group C 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Uyo, Nigeria, on Friday night.
The game will start at 9pm.
Broos confirmed that Sundowns defender Grant Kekana has been replaced with Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango.
Kekana sustained a hamstring injury and was substituted during the Nedbank Cup final against the Orlando Pirates at the weekend.
Khuliso Mudau, a speedy defender, had a shoulder ache in the first-half of the final, but coach Rulani Mokwena refused to let him leave the field despite his request for a substitution.
This added to Broos’ worries.
Overloading problem
Other Sundowns players who reported to the Bafana camp with niggles, according to Broos, are Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Bathusi Aubaas, and captain Ronwen Williams.
“It’s amazing that of the six injured players we have, all are coming from Sundowns,” Broos said.
“Sundowns had many injuries this season, and everybody knows that one of the reasons is the overloading problems because they played a lot of games.
“But what is interesting is that 75% of the injuries are groyne and hamstring injuries, and I think there is something more behind that.
“I hope that the medical staff at Sundowns can find the reasons behind the injuries because next season will be exactly the same.
“They will have the same overloading problem. They will compete in the league, MTN8, Nedbank Cup, Carling Knockout, Champions League, and the Fifa Club World Cup at the end of the season.”
Foundation of Bafana squad
The 72-year-old stated that the Sundowns medical team should look deep into the matter, as the foundation of his squad is made up of players from Sundowns.
“I am a little bit worried because in September, October, and November, we will probably have qualifiers for the Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations]. Imagine that we have the same situation and have to miss six players.
“Everybody knows that the basic squad of Bafana Bafana is made up of Sundowns players. So, it does worry me that there might be players that we can’t select because of injuries.
“It might not be a problem for now, but I really hope that later in the year, we won’t have similar problems because we have important games ahead of us,” said Broos.
Despite the injury concerns, Broos confirmed that Mokoena, Modiba, Aubaas, and Williams will all be ready and good to go against the Super Eagles.
