Injury headache for Joel
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:00
Bafana Bafana head coach Joel Santana was forced to make threev last minute changes to his squad that will travel to Leverkusen in Germany on Tuesday where then national side play three time World champions Germany in a friendly international on Saturday night (8.45pm) and Ireland in Limerick next Tuesday night.
Out are injured Orlando Pirates midfield playmaker Teko Modise,
veteran midfielder anchorman Macbeth Sibaya of Russia outfit Ruban
Kazan and Greek based right back Bryce Moon who plays for
Panathinaikos.
Santana has called up Modise's Bucs teammate Katlego Mashego and
two Ajax Cape Town players Lance Davids and Clifford Ngobeni.
Mashego, a striker who failed at the Confederations Cup in June
gets another lifeline in place of Modise.
The injuries were confirmed by Bafana team manager Sipho Nkumane
on Monday: "Modise pulled out on Monday night with a toe injury. It is a
blow but that is why we have a squad. It is up to the other players
to fill the boots of the injured players."
The national team manager added: "We are busy checking on all
the players that the coach named last week for the two friendly
matches. We are hoping that the other local based players assemble
(at the OR Tambo Airport) on Tuesday injury free but we are
prepared if we have to make more last minute changes."
Davids who has already played 16 times for his country but did
not get a game during the Confederations Cup is versatile and can
play either in a defensive midfield role or at right back. He will
be keen to get a run against either Germany or Ireland and keep in
the frame for a place in Santana's 2010 World Cup squad.
It is Johannesburg born Ngobeni's first call up and the talented
22-year-old midfielder will be keen to stake his claim for a place
in the squad either against Germany or when Bafana meet a strong
Irish side in Limerick next Tuesday night where Bafana complete
their two match away trip to Europe.
The European based players in the squad will meet up with their
local based teammates in Leverkusen on Wednesday.
The fact that Moon is ruled out could also open the door for
unknown right back Anele Ngongca who plays in Belgium, for Genk to
make his Bafana debut on the trip.
Siboniso Gaxa of Mamelodi
Sundowns was the preferred right back in the Confederations Cup
where Bafana finished fourth but Santana has promised to blood more
new players and give other fringe players a chance as
during the seven friendly matches that Bafana will compete in
during the remainder of 2009.