Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed the list of players not available for his side’s Nedbank Cup clash with Marumo Gallants, but gave positive updates on Abubeker Nasir and Terrence Mashego.
Downs have already played 12 matches in 2023 and 13 since the restart of the DStv Premiership – more than any other team in domestic football.
The massive amount of games has led to several injury problems in and around the squad, even though several key players have come back from the treatment table recently.
However, several others are still sidelined, as Mokwena explained ahead of Thursday’s Nedbank Cup clash with Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein.
“Not much has changed from the previous injury list,” he said.
“Still from the top of my head, still Gaston Sirino out, still Lesedi Kapinga out. Lebo [Maboe] is still out with an injury, still working very hard on his rehabilitation.
“Gift Motupa picked up a knock, which is still to be assessed on the toe against Al Ahly. so he’s on the medical list.
“[Sphelele] Mkhulise picked up an injury against Al Ahly, you saw we had to take him off in the second half.
“[Erwin] Saavedra is still out, even though he’s on the green grass but still training in isolation. That’s just about that from the injury list.”
Mokwena, though, did have a positive update on Ethiopian striker Abubeker Nasir, who is close to making a return.
“He’s back on the green grass, not back in full team training but good to see that he’s back on the green grass and he’s doing some work with the stuff,” he said when asked by iDiski Times about the striker.
“Someone that we are also looking forward to welcoming back and integrate back into training and hopefully compete for a place in the team. It’s going to be tough for him also, because of the performances of the rest of the players in his position.
“Fingers crossed he’ll be back very soon.”
The Downs coach also gave some insight into the long recovery period of new signing Terrence Mashego, who made just four appearances since signing from Cape Town City.
“Terrence, he’s back, he’s on the pitch. He’s played a couple of friendly games for us. A little bit difficult because there is some form of medical history with regards to the injury he picked up last time.
“And it’s a little bit delicate because you could go into a space of developing a chronic situation, so we have to take it a little bit easy and threat carefully.
“Fortunately we have a very experienced medical team, with very good biokineticists and doctors and that space is qualified with very, very good people in regards to managing injuries.
“He’s on the green grass and he’s working very, very hard to regain form and confidence and match fitness to be able to compete for a position.”