After announcing a preliminary squad of 36 players last week, head coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, could be without two key players.
The players are expected to start a training camp today (Monday, 12 June 2023).
Central defender Tiisetso Makhubela and left-back Karabo Dhlamini, both from Hollywoodbets Super League reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, are nursing an assortment of injuries.
Makhubela, a former Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) player, has missed three of her club’s last three league games – vs Richmond, First Touch and Ma-Indies.
She last played in the one-all draw against Thunderbird Ladies (Saturday, 27 May 2023) at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London – and was substituted in the 48th minute.
After being part of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad in France, the defender missed out on last year’s CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after she was placed on the stand-by list.
On the other hand, Dhlamini, who has been a regular for both club and country, was stretchered off in the first half of their 8-1 midweek win against First Touch on Wednesday (7 June) at Wits Sturrock Park in Johannesburg.
She was replaced by Karabo Makhurubetshi, and was not named in the match day squad against Ma-Indies Ladies on Saturday (10 June).
The experienced fullback represented Banyana Banyana at the World Cup four years ago, and was a key figure in Morocco in 2022 as she helped South Africa lift their maiden continental title.
It is still not clear what the extent of the injuries are for the duo, but all the players will go for medical assessment when they report for national team duty, which will shed more light about the injury situation in camp.
This article was written by Matlhomola Morake for centrecircle.com and relayed by kick442.com as an official media partner.
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