Pool chemical reactions from a hotel in Cape Town have infected AmaZulu camp, leaving a few players with red, irritated eyes and unable to see completely this past weekend.
The players affected were Abbubaker Mobara, George Maluleka and Riaan Hanamub, who are said to have spent too much time in the pool before the game against Cape Town Spurs.
This is why Hanamub, who was a key player for Namibia’s record run to the Round of 16 in the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, missed the 3-1 loss to Ernst Middendorp’s side.
With Hanamub missing the game, his place was taken by Sifiso Ngobeni, who recently joined on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Maluleka, who previously played for Cape Town Spurs before when the club was known as Ajax Cape Town, came on in the second half of that game.
Mobara, despite the infection in his eyes, was able to play and scored the consolation goal against the Urban Warriors.
However, the club decided not to include him in the Usuthu’s win in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 over Royal AM at Princes Magogo Stadium on Thursday.
Hendrick Ekstein climbed off the bench to score the winner late on in the game as Usuthu reached the Round of the 16 of the competition.
“The reason why Mobara was not here was because of the disease [pool chemical reactions], so it was not possible. It was an eye infection,” said Usuthu coach Pablo Franco Martin when asked why Mobara did not play against Royal AM.
“He was not available. He tried to force it, he wanted to be in the game and be available but the medical staff and the rest of the technical team – we decided for him and the rest of the team [not to include him] because it was contagious.
“It was the best to keep him out, not because we were thinking of Mamelodi Sundowns game.”
The explanation from Martin on Sundowns was that Mobara is on three yellow cards, meaning if he was booked against Royal AM, he would have missed the key against the run-away league leaders Sundowns.
“He was going play if he was ready [against Royal AM], he would have been part of the squad. He is key play for us,” added Martin.
“I’m sure he will be,” also replied Franco when he was asked if Mobara would be fit against the Tshwane side.
“He is a fighter, like all of us here!”
Usuthu, who were beaten in the final of this cup in 2010, were dumped out in the round of 16 last season by minnows – Dondol Stars on penalties.
They will hope for a better outcome this time around once the draw is out
