Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has expressed his displeasure with Rulani Mokwena’s latest comments about some of his Mamelodi Sundowns players still suffering with some niggling injuries since the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mokwena has had to balance reincorporating his Bafana players, while surviving without the likes of Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala and Thapelo Maseko, who returned injured from the tournament.
After Sundowns’ 2-0 win over Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup, Mokwena did reveal that goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has been battling an issue with his shoulder since AFCON, while Teboho Mokoena has struggled with knee problems since the tournament.
“Ronza is struggling with the shoulder and we’ve got a very difficult Champions League game, Tebza is struggling with the knee and he’s had it since AFCON. Ronza has had the shoulder since AFCON,” he told journalists after the match.
“And only now we’ve got Mothobi back and Sailor back. But we still have problems with Maseko, who got an injury also in AFCON.”
He went on to confirm that Williams and Mokoena were rested against Maritzburg, but will likely still make the trip to Algeria with Bafana.
“They were rested because they’ve got niggling injuries to be honest, and that’s really the truth,” he added.
“Are they injury strong enough to keep them away from from Bafana? I don’t know because I think as a club we’ve always supported the national team agenda. Always, always, always and we will continue to do that.”
With Sundowns’ and SuperSport United’s Bafana players still on route to Algeria to link up with the rest of the national team, Broos was asked whether he has heard anything about Williams’ and Mokoena’s injury issues.
However, the Belgian tactician reacted annying, saying the medical team of Bafana has not received any information from Sundowns, so he regards the players as fit.
“If they are really injured, they have to inform us and not talking with the press and tell them they are injured,” Broos replied.
“I think we have a doctor. They know we have a doctor, they have the phone number of the doctor, so why don’t they call us and give us a medical report?
“They didn’t do it, so that means they are fit, I’m very sorry, I can’t go on rumours and saying of coach Rulani and maybe the technical director telling me they are injured – give me a medical report! And then our doctor will decided if they are injured or not.
“I’m very sorry but I don’t like that kind of things and telling to press some things. They have to call us and say, ‘look, this is the problem with the player and this is the medical report’.
“They didn’t do it, so for me they are fit. Final.”
When it was put to Broos whether he has heard of any Sundowns players not traveling, he dismissed those rumours and expressed his frustration about the situation.
“I don’t have that information, I expect the seven players of Sundowns here tonight in camp,” he added.
“I heard some rumours [of players not traveling]. I read some thing of coach Rulani who said ‘those players are not fit’.
“Why is he talking to the press? Why don’t the medical staff of Sundowns contact our medical staff? Why do they don’t tell them ‘this is the problem and this is the medical report? Look, those players are not fit and well’.
“But they didn’t, they just talk with the press. I’m very sorry, but I can’t believe what’s in the papers. This is a very important matter, you have to talk to the doctor and not in the press.
“I’m very sorry, but I’m upset about that kind of information.”
Bafana take on Andorra in a friendly on Thursday, before facing Algeria five days later as part of the new FIFA Friendlies Series.
