An injury report from Moroka Swallows’ medical staff 24 hours before the crunch Premier League game against Kaizer Chiefs at King’s Park on Wednesday night conjured up a picture of the wounded limping back in pain from the Crimean War.
Five Swallows players who ostensibly would be first-choice selections for the Sowetan ”Derby-by-the-Sea” are unavailable due to injury.
According to the team’s doctor, Cecil Oerson has a ”grade 3A tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus of the right knee”, and will be out of contention for the remainder of the year.
Greg Etafia has a ”complete fracture left distal ulna [forearm] bone”. He underwent an operation in October and is expected to recover by late January in 2008.
Bjorn Gugger has serious cartilage damage to his left knee and could be back playing in December.
Tebogo Monyai fractured his right leg and perhaps will be fit to play at the end of the month.
George Hummel suffered an unexpected recurrence of the right tibia fracture incurred late last year and will not play until at least the end of January 2008.
However, all is not doom and gloom in the Swallows’ ward, with key midfielder Tsweu Mokoro overcoming a ligament injury.
”The team has demonstrated commendable grit in spite of all the setbacks,” says coach Ian Garowa, ”and adversity and indifferent results against Chiefs in recent times will be the spur to put the record straight on this occasion.” – Sapa