Mamelodi Sundowns will be without their seven Bafana Bafana stars on top of their injured players for Wednesday night’s Carling Knockout Cup opener – here is how they could line up.
The Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 kicks this evening when TS Galaxy host Sundowns at Mbombela Stadium (19:30).
For Downs it will be the first game since their shortfall on penalties in the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates, but their busy schedule hasn’t made things easier for Rulani Mokwena.
The match had to be scheduled on Wednesday due to Sundowns’ participation in the newly-formed African Football League, where they will face Petro de Luanda in Angola on Saturday.
Due to the fixture congestion, Sundowns will be without their Bafana players, namely: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana and Themba Zwane, who are understood to travel straight to Angola from Ivory Coast.
But with Downs arguably having the strongest squad in South African football, Mokwena will still be able to field a formidable starting XI, with decent back-up options off the bench.
At this stage, though, it remains unclear whether Peter Shalulile has returned to full fitness and whether Mokwena will risk him after he stated that the striker picked up an injury in the MTN8 final.
The likes of Bathusi Aubaas and Lesiba Nku have returned to the training and should be available for selection, but it remains to be seen whether Lucas Ribeiro and Nasir Abubeker have returned to full fitness.
Potential Downs XI: Pieterse – Boutouil, Lebusa, Coetzee, Maseko – Aubaas, Zungu, Allende, Maema, Mendieta – Shalulile
One of those players in contention to start is midfielder Lebohang Maboe and he believes that the players who are available are capable for carrying the team.
“We’ve got a very tight schedule but when you sign up for a big club you have to be ready at all times,” he told the club’s media department.
“Whenever the coach needs you just have to perform and help the team. I think everyone is ready to perform and help the team and put the team into the next round.
“We always go into the game to win each game, knowing that it’s a cup game I think it’s important for us to finish in 90 minutes and try our level best to put the team into the next round.”
