Bafana Bafana have called up another Orlando Pirates star after two Mamelodi Sundowns star withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Sundowns duo Thapelo Maseko and Grant Kekana will play no part in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Benin.
Read: Makgopa Gets Bafana Nod, Two Downs Players Make Broos
As a result, coach Hugo Broos has called up Buccaneers defender Thapelo Xoki and Sekhukhune United midfielder Elias Mokwana after team doctor Tshepo Molobi confirmed the Sundowns duo had been released.
"The understanding was that they were nursing a couple injuries. The medical team at Sundowns were working tirelessly to get them ready for their club's obligations and such that they could be released to the national team," Molobi told SAFA media.
"Grant Kekana did not participate in Sundowns' match against Wydad on Sunday and Thapelo got 5-10 minutes. Thapelo already had scans done and the hope was with medical intervention he would be ready coming into camp to play.
"When we analysed him clinically and from a medial persepective, we couldn't give the coaches assurances that we would have him ready, certainly not for Saturday and it was question if we could get him ready for Tuesday against Rwanda and the same goes for Grant.
"Grant at that stage hadn't done any scans. He did scans on arrival at camp and a few things were noted on MRI, so we took the decision to exclude them from and allow them enough time for rehabiliation."
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments
