As Bafana Bafana prepare to book a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the two series qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, coach Hugo Broos is concerned by the number of players who have sustained injuries.
Broos says it’s mostly DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns players who suffered most injuries this season.
“From the six injured players we have, there are six injured players from the same team, Sundowns.
They played a lot of games but what is interesting is that 75% of the injuries are groyne or hamstring injuries and I think there has to be something more to that.
I hope that the medical staff at Sundowns can find the reason for that because next season it will be the same.
They will have the same overloaded program.
They will play PSL, they will play MTN, they will play the Champions League, there is even a World Cup full of clubs at the end of the season and I’m a little bit worried because in September, October, and November, we will probably have the qualifiers for AFCON,” said Broos.
Bafana will first battle it out with arch-rivals, Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an away game on Friday in Uyo.
They will then return home to host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 11 June.
Broos said they hope to clinch at least four points against the two countries.
”For us to achieve our goal, one has to be at least four or six points ahead.
I don’t want to lose any more games,” highlighted the coach.
With camp already underway at the Dobsonville stadium in Soweto, Broos has already made changes that include replacing Sundowns defender, Grant Kekana due to a groin injury, with Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango.
The coach added that Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau and Ronwen Williams will be ready for the game on Friday despite what he described as ”little problems” they are experiencing.
