Sundowns' Rulani Mokwena disappointed with Bafana coach Broos ...
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena is unhappy some of his players returned from national duty injured.
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SPORT
Sundowns coach Mokwena not happy that Bafana coach Broos still played Khuliso Mudau, even after an ankle injury at Afcon.
He says some of his players returned from Bafana with serious injuries.
He spoke after his side demolished La Masia 6-1 in the #NedbankCup2024#CityPress pic.twitter.com/iaacZ7ayIP
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena on Tuesday expressed his disappointment at his Bafana Bafana counterpart, Hugo Broos, for fielding defender Khuliso Mudau while he was injured at the Afcon finals in Ivory Coast.
Mokwena, who spoke after Sundowns demolished La Masia in the Nedbank Cup last 32 match, said he was not happy that some of Sundowns players returned from Bafana's Afcon campaign carrying “serious injuries”.
Mudau was seen grimacing in pain after a Tunisia player stamped on his ankle towards the end of the first half of Bafana’s final Afcon group stage match on 24 January.
As a result of the nasty tackle, the 28-year-old was unable to continue and did not return to the field for the second half.
READ: Sundowns into Nedbank Cup last 16 with win over La Masia
Asked then whether Mudau was going to be fit for the last 16 round against Morocco, Broos told the media in Korogho in Ivory Coast: “The fact that Khuliso was to go out is not a good sign.”
But the prowling fullback, who defends with the same intensity as when in attack, went on to play all seven matches for Bafana. Mokwena said this did not sit well with him.
“The reason some of the players are not here is not even my choice,” Mokwena said.
This was his response when asked to give an injury update on his nine players who formed the bedrock of Broos’s Afcon campaign.
Mokwena said:
Some of the players that came from Bafana, it's not a question of whether we want to use them or not. We cannot use them because they came back with injuries, some with very serious injuries. But okay, it is what it is.
Mokwena said some players will be out for weeks.
He added: “Mothobi Mvala is out and will probably be out for six to eight weeks. Sailor [Mudau] is out and will be out for about six to eight weeks also with a high-end grade three ankle injury. We all saw when Sailor got injured and he still played, which disappoints me a little bit.”
READ: 5 interesting facts about the Nedbank Cup last 32 round
Downs goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who played in the 1-1 DStv Premiership match against Orlando Pirates at the weekend, was rested in Downs' Nedbank Cup last 16 win over La Masia because of a discomfort in his shoulder.
Mokwena said talisman Themba Zwane also returned with a niggle and that is why the playmaker has not played since his return from the month-long Afcon tournament.
Sundowns are preparing for a laborious trip to Mauritania for a CAF Champions League penultimate group stage match against FC Nouadhibou on Saturday.
