By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has been forced to pull out of the Bafana Bafana squad with an injury.
Maswanganyi was missing in action on Sunday as his team Pirates claimed a vital 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League game at the FNB Stadium.
It was later confirmed that the versatile attacker was injured in training.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos claims he was not informed that Maswanganyi was out injured which affected his plans.
“Maswanganyi, I’m a bit angry because we only knew yesterday evening, and from what I heard, he was already injured on Saturday, so he couldn’t play yesterday, so we had to look for someone else today,” he said.
“If my information is right, he was injured in training, everyone knew he was in the national team and at that moment, a little call, to say look I’m injured I can’t play tomorrow, I can’t be in the camp, that gives us more time to look for another player. Just give the information, they didn’t have to call me, they could call the [team] doctor!
“Say look, there’s a problem with Patrick, blah blah, blah, he’s not ready for the camp but now we wait, wait, wait, and at 7 or 8 O’clock I get a call from the team manager saying Patrick is injured, that’s why he was not in the list of players of the game yesterday,” he added.
“What’s wrong with giving information to a doctor if they don’t want to give it to me, call the doctor, it’s so easy and helps us a lot when we know at the right moment.”
Broos has confirmed that Polokwane City midfielder Ndamulelo Maphangule has replaced Maswanganyi.
Maphangule reported to camp with the rest of his national teammates at the Ranch just outside Polokwane.
The former Venda FC man has been key for Rise and Shine in his 19 appearances this season and a goal.
He was in the preliminary squad that faced Uganda and South Sudan in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers last year and even the preliminary squad for the current camp.
Broos hopes to collect maximum points in Group C to stand a chance of guiding the team to the 2026 Fifa World Cup.