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Four South African Players In Doubt For Angola Friendly International

Four South African Players In Doubt For Angola Friendly International

South Africa’s 3-1 win over Guinea-Bissau in a friendly international on Saturday in Durban came with a price as four Bafana Bafana players are doubtful for the friendly encounter against Angola on Tuesday through injury.

Defenders Erick Mathoho and Thulani Hlatshwayo, as well midfielders Dean Furman and Andile Jali are being monitored by the national team’s medical staff.

Mathoho has a skin abrasion while Hlatshwayo suffered an ankle sprain in the weekend’s match. Furman is struggling with a groin problem while his midfield partner Andile Jali suffered a shoulder dislocation shortly before the end of the match.

The quartet missed Bafana’s first training session at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Sunday night, and will need to be closely monitored before a decision on their availability is made.

Mathoho and Hlatshwayo formed the central pairing in defence against Guinea Bissau while Furman was in the heart of midfield alongside Kamohelo Mokotjo from the start of the game.

Jali came on as a substitute in the 58th minute, replacing Themba Zwane, but was stretchered off in injury time, just a few minutes after scoring South Africa’s third goal from the penalty spot.

A final training session on Monday night will be used to gauge the recovery of the four players, enabling interim coach Owen da Gama to consider them for the starting eleven if they are able to pass a late fitness test.

“It’s a concern when you have players injured, but the good thing is that we have brought a good number of players with lots of quality so we will not rush these ones back. We had already said we are going to make changes so if the quartet doesn’t recover on time for the match we are still covered,” Da Gama said, according to SAFA.

“After tonight’s training session, we will have to check their status with the medical team and take it from there,” the Bafana coach added.

The South Africans arrived in East London on Sunday afternoon, while Angola landed on Monday morning for the clash set for Tuesday at Buffalo City Stadium.