Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt has provided an injury update on four of his players ahead of Sunday’s Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final against AmaZulu FC.
The Cape Winelands outfit will host an in-form Usuthu at Danie Craven Stadium, aiming to build on their cup progress after a difficult start to the league campaign.
Hunt welcomed the return of Tlakusani Mthethwa and Kazeem Adeyanju but confirmed that Mosa Lebusa and Genino Palace will miss the tie.
Hunt has identified injuries and limited squad depth as factors behind Stellenbosch’s struggles, with several players unavailable during the opening months of the season.
Mthethwa recently came off the bench in Stellies’ 2-0 defeat to Chippa United, while Adeyanju’s return offers another midfield option. However, Hunt cautioned that the pair might not yet be ready to start against AmaZulu.
“One is back at training like Bafana [Mthethwa] and Kazeem, which gives a little bit of hope. Obviously, I don’t think they’re gonna be ready to play, but certainly they can come into the squad and give us more depth in our squad. That is something that really hurt since the start of the season, the depth in our squad,” Hunt told the media.
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While the returning duo could strengthen Hunt’s options, Stellenbosch will again be without experienced centre-back Lebusa and midfielder Palace.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns centre-back, Lebusa, has been sidelined since featuring in Stellies’ 1-0 league defeat to AmaZulu in August. Palace remains in rehabilitation and will also miss the knockout fixture.
“We missed a lot of players. If we compare to AmaZulu, they’ve had their best XI most of the time. Yeah, we get one or two back but still one or two out of the pitch like Mosa Lebusa who hasn’t played, and Genino Palace; they won’t be available this weekend,” Hunt added.
Adeyanju has already demonstrated what he can offer Hunt’s side. On his Stellenbosch debut, he came off the bench to create both goals for Sinoxolo Kwayiba in their 2-0 victory over Durban City FC.
That result secured Stellies’ place in the quarter-finals, where they will now seek to overcome AmaZulu and move a step closer to silverware.
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