Beset with an unforgiving fixture schedule locally and at continental level, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is concerned by his side’s growing injury list.
Rulani Mokwena has had to tinker with his squad, particularly in the strike-force department. He misses the usually effective pair of Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribiero.
They are also missing the services of Thapelo Morena, who is nursing an abdominal injury that he sustained in the
Sipho Mbule, Lesiba Nku and Bathusi Aubaas are also on the treatment bed, crucially as Masandawana seek to punch above their weight in the recently christened African Football League [AFL].
Mamelodi Sundowns are set to host Petro de Luanda at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday at 21h00 [CAT].
They will be hoping to complete a double over the Angolans after winning the first-leg match 2-0 last weekend in Luanda.
However, Mokwena is concerned by the injuries that have minimised his options, especially in the strike force.
‘I LOVE ALL MY PLAYERS’
“The absence of some of our players, and even now we are in a space where we are playing without Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro [Costa], Lesiba Nku, Thapelo Morena, Lebo[Lebohang Maboe] who recently came back.
“We are playing games without Sipho Mbule. If you want to know how important Sipho is, watch the game against Pirates at Orlando.
“Watch our game against Wydad last season in Morocco. We are going on with our business, and the players that were given the responsibility have done well. Mendieta now is stabilising, and Aubrey has been consistent.”
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However, the shrewd tactician, Mokwena, remains confident that the available players will get the job done.
He added: “I love all my players. We are extremely blessed to have the squad. The facts remain, and I am still a bit uneasy about the unfairness of playing a CAF fixture without six or seven Bafana Internationals who played the day before and were asked to play the following day.
“You ask me about Themba Zwane, who is probably the most consistent player in South African football for the last ten years.
“You ask me about Teboho Mokwena. You’re asking about the reigning footballer of the season. The fact remains that their quality shows when they are on the pitch.”