By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@BackpagePix.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says Mothobi Mvala may not be available for AFCON games in Côte d’Ivoire due to a groin injury.
“The doctors are with him now and we will wait for the medical report. I am not sure if he will go with us to the Ivory Coast,” said Broos.
“We will wait for the report and see how bad the injury is, but we can’t take him with us if he can’t train for the next ten days. It is better we take another player.”
The loss of Mvala would be a major blow at the back for the team, with Orlando Pirates centre back Thapelo Xoki, placed on standby, likely to replace him.
Broos also revealed that captain Ronwen Williams has a minor injury and will miss his side’s final warm up match against Lesotho.
“It is just a niggle I have on my knee,” explained Williams.
“It is something that reoccurs a lot because of the loading of a lot of games.”
Williams has already played 26 times for Sundowns in all competitions this season.
“Themba [Zwane] also picked up a knock two days ago at training. He wanted to train yesterday but it was better not to do so but again there will be no problem for next week. Tomorrow Themba will not play, added Broos.”
The national team returned to Gauteng on Tuesday as they are set to face Lesotho in a training match behind closed doors at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday, 10 January 2024.
Following that, Bafana Bafana are set to jet off to the Ivory Coast on Thursday evening. They open their 2023 Afcon account against Mali in Group E clash next week Tuesday.