Staff Reporter.
Bafana Bafana have been dealt a blow after Thibang Phete and Thabiso Kutumela were ruled out of Friday’s crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Harare.
While every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of the team in the ‘bubble,’ bad news struck on Wednesday morning.
Thibang Phete who plays for Portuguese club Belenenses SAD was missing from training, after his PCR (polymerase-chain reaction) test came back positive for Covid-19, and was isolated immediately. Later it was flagged that another positive test returned for Thabiso Kutumela, as the teams results became available throughout the morning. Kutumela was also isolated.
“We have tried our level best to ensure that the national team remains safe while in camp. It is always daunting to try and pin-point as to where and when the infection happened. Every measure is taken to ensure the safety of everyone in the camp,” Team Doctor Tshepo Molobi.
Dr. Molobi adds that all other tests for players and staff have returned negative and it will only be the exclusion of Phete and Kutumela who will not be traveling with the team when they depart on Wednesday afternoon.
The next round of Covid-19 tests will be done on arrival in Zimbabwe on Wednesday night.