Bafana Bafana suffer double injury blow

by Bertin Basson

Monday Oct 08, 2018. 15:00

Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter could be without both Thapelo Morena and Vincent Pule for the country’s home and away 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Seychelles this month.

Morena had to be withdrawn from the Mamelodi Sundowns starting 11 ahead of their clash against Bidvest Wits in Atteridgeville on Sunday, after he strained his quad muscle in warm-up.

Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane expressed his frustration at the injury, but failed to confirm whether it will keep him out of the qualifiers with Bafana Bafana’s medical team to assess the extent of the injury on Monday.

Furthermore, Pule played no part in Orlando Pirates 1-1 draw away to AmaZulu this past weekend with the reason behind his absence yet to be disclosed.

South Africa have been hit by a catalogue of injuries over the past month with both Keagan Dolly and Bongani Zungu having picked up serious injuries while playing for their respective club sides in the French top division.

The goal-scoring form of Dino Ndlovu, Percy Tau and Lebo Mothiba will come as a major boost for Baxter, though, with the latter having netted a brace for Strasbourg in a 2-2 draw against Angers this past weekend.

Bafana Bafana welcome to the Seychelles to the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday before taking on the same opponents in Victoria three days later.