Cape Town City FC head coach Andries Ulderink has issued an update on the absence of wonderkid Emile Witbooi, who has missed the Citizens’ last two matches in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The South African junior international was a notable absentee in Cape Town City’s 3-1 win over The Bees on Tuesday and their 3-2 victory against Gomora United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday afternoon.
Witbooi formed part of the Amajita side that beat Mozambique in the 2026 COSAFA U-20 Championship final and subsequently qualified for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations set to be played in Ghana.
The 18-year-old played a crucial role in the SA U-20 team at the regional tournament and was voted Man of the Match during the 2-1 win against the host nation, Mozambique. However, it turns out the young attacker went to the tournament carrying an injury.
CAPE TOWN CITY COACH ANDRIES ULDERINK EXPLAINS WHY EMILE WITBOOI IS NOT AVAILABLE
Speaking at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium following the victory over Gomora, Ulderink confirmed that the star player’s injury was aggravated during the tournament in Mozambique.
“No, he came back with an injury from the [FIFA] international break. He went there [Mozambique] with a few issues.” Ulderink told journalists. “He’s played a couple of games over there as well with that injury. It got a little bit worse, and so now he’s recovering from that.”
Meanwhile, Witbooi was named in Raymond Mdaka’s 37-man preliminary squad for the U-23 side for next month’s back-to-back 2028 LA Olympic Games qualifiers against Madagascar.
It remains to be seen whether Witbooi will be ready and available for the final squad for the two games on Wednesday, 14 November and Saturday, 17 November at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
ANDRIES ULDERINK REFLECTS ON CRUCIAL WIN AS THEY CLIMB TO TOP OF THE TABLE
Meanwhile, the win against Gomora United takes Cape Town City to the top of the Motsepe Foundation Championship log with four wins from their opening seven matches.
The Citizens are now on 14 points, tied with Magesi FC, who will be in action in the Limpopo Derby against Venda FC this Saturday afternoon, 17 October.
Ulderink admitted his men were a bit lucky to walk away with the victory after Gabriel Amato handed them the win with a stunning goal five minutes before the full-time whistle.
“I thought we started the game really well. I think the first 25 minutes we were defending really well and on the ball we were creating [goal scoring chances], and we could control the game quite well to be honest,” he explained.
“After that, I think Gomora was [for] 20 minutes better than us, playing better football. But luckily for us, we scored 2-0 just before half-time. And that was, I think, good for us because at that time, I think, we didn’t deserve the second goal.”
Cape Town City’s next match will be away to struggling Orbit College FC on Friday, 23 October.
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