Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar has been ruled out of the team’s friendly against Burkina Faso on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder limped off with a groin injury during the team’s friendly Atletico Bilbao in London on Saturday.
The news will put pressure under an already strained midfield as Pitso Mosimane is already without Kaizer Chiefs talisman Reneilwe Letsholonyane who is out action for up to five weeks with a knee injury.
“It’s part of the game — he missed the last match against Egypt due to injury and again he is not available for this one, but there’s not much one can do about it.” Mosimane said on Sunday.
“All I can do is wish him and Letsholonyane a speedy recovery,” he added.
With the coach yet to name a replacement for Pienaar it may well be a chance to shine for fringe players like Hlompho Kekana as well as Oupa Manyisa, who replaces Letsholonyane.
The team will also be boosted by the call up of Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Thulani Serero along with the return of Golden Arrows Thanduyise Khuboni.
Vice-captain Siphiwe Tshabalala will lead the team in Pienaar’s absence.
The squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Wayne Sandilands.
Defenders: Morgan Gould, Tebogo Langerman, Tshepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa, Bongani Khumalo, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni, Happy Jele.
Midfielders: Kagisho Dikgacoi, Hlompho Kekana, Opua Manyisa, Tlou Segogela, Andile Jali, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni.
Strikers: Bernard Parker, Thulani Serero, Katlego Mphela, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Kermit Erasmus. — M&G and Sapa