Polokwane City FC head coach Phuti Mohafe has shed light on Thabang Matuludi’s injury setback with the Betway Premiership heading to the second round.
The Rise and Shine fullback suffered Matuludi’s injury blow when the Limpopo club faced SuperSport United in a league tie over a week ago. The game ended in a 1-0 scoreline in favour of PLK City, thanks to Oswin Appollis’ solo goal.
The 26-year-old wing-back tore ligaments in his knee and is anticipated to have surgery.
In the current campaign, Matuludi has been featured in 14 games across all competitions for PLK City, contributing two goals and weighing in with one assist.
PHUTI MOHAFE COMMENTS ON THABANG MATULUDI’S INJURY
Mohafe confirmed that Matuludi will be sidelined for an extended period due to the necessity of undergoing surgery, and he is uncertain about the duration of his absence.
The Rise and Shine mentor was speaking over the weekend after their 1-0 victory against Naas The Bees in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 clash.
PLK City are also missing Tlou Nkwe and Hlayisi Chauke, both of whom are recovering from injuries. Nkwe has already had surgery and will be sidelined for a minimum of three months.
“I think it’s going to take some time. But we hope that he recovers very quickly. Him and Chauke together with Tlou we hope that they recover very, very quickly,” Mohafe told journalists in Polokwane.
“We need their involvement in the team. We need them, and their effort, we need the energy that they put into the team. So we miss them.”
However, Mohafe praised Sinhle Makhubela, who has filled in Matuludi’s void, but the coaches acknowledged that Makhubela and Matuludi are different types of players in the field of play.
“Matuludi is more offensive, and this one [Makhubela] is more defensive. But he can go forward, however, not as often as Matuludi is attacking,” he added.
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