Mamelodi Sundowns’ treatment room resembled something of war casualty zone on Tuesday as their international players all returned from weekend duty in the African Nations Cup.
Captain Method Mwanjali suffered a cut on head and possible concussion, Elias Pelembe has aggravated an ankle injury suffered recently against Orlando Pirates and Katlego Mphela is still sidelined after hurting his knee with Bafana Bafana last week.
Mphela missed the Bafana Bafana loss in Niamey against Niger because of the injury, sustained in training at Phokeng before the side left for West Africa.
Sundowns reported on the club’s official website that Mphela might need two or three more days of treatment before being ready to resume training, but are confident of having him on the pitch when the Brazilians next play – against BidVest Wits at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Tuesday. Mphela has already notched three league goals for the club this season and shares the early lead in the goal-scoring charts.
Mwanjali was cut on his head in action for Zimbabwe as they thumped Liberia 3-0 in Harare on Sunday and might also be suffering from concussion. He is being monitored over the next days.
Pelembe, who travelled with Mozambique to Cairo where they lost 1-0 to Libya in a match played behind closed doors, aggravated an old ankle injury.
He hurt it first when Sundowns drew with Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final, second leg tie at Loftus Versfeld and then suffered further pain against the Libyans.
Sundowns said they hoped the trio would all be passed fit by the weekend.
