Bafana Bafana preparations suffered another blow on Monday when Sibusiso ”Rhee” Zuma was ruled out of the squad to play Cape Verde in a World Cup and Afcon 2006 qualifier on Saturday, due to injury.
Apart from Zuma, who sustained a groin injury playing for his side, Copenhagen, over the weekend, there is doubt about the availability of South Africa’s number-one goalkeeper, Hans Vonk.
Vonk sustained a slight injury to his back during Sunday’s training session. This was sad news for Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, who said he might call on Kaizer Chiefs goalie Rowen Fernandez to cover for Calvin Marlin.
”We don’t have to feel sorry for ourselves, these things happen. If one player is injured, we have to get another to replace him. This is very difficult, as we have about six players on the injury list, but we have to come home with full points at the end of the day,” said Baxter.
These injured players are Cyril ”Skhokho” Nzama, Bradley Carnell, Quinton Fortune, Mathew Booth, Zuma and Shaun Bartlett.
Baxter said he was advised to leave Bartlett out of the squad, because he has not fully recovered from his injury.
On Sunday, only eight players arrived for the Bafana training session, but by Monday, only four were still to arrive.
The players who are expected on Tuesday are Elrio van Heerden, Mbulelo ”OJ” Mabizela, Katlego Mphela and Nassief Morris, who is with his wife who is about to give birth to their first child in Cape Town.
”I’m expecting all the players to be on the camp on Tuesday,” said Baxter, whose side will leave Durban morning for Cape Verde on Thursday.
Players who started the camp on Sunday were captain Aaron ”Mbazo” Mokoena, Benson Mhlongo, Benedict ”Tso” Vilakazi, Lucky Lekgwathi, Vonk, Arthur ”10111” Zwane and Thabiso Ramille while Benni McCarthy, Ricardo Katza, Siboniso Gaxa, Delron Buckley, Steven Pienaar and Marlin joined the camp on Monday. — Sapa