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Tsepo Masilela played through the pain against Real Madrid
Masilela plays through the pain against Real
Posted: 2012-02-07 20:16
Getafe's Tsepo Masilela injured his hamstring against Real Madrid, but played the match out – and got a hug from Jose Mourinho for his efforts.
Masilela’s agent is hopeful that the Bafana Bafana fullback will be back in action next week following his heroic display for Getafe in their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the weekend.
Masilela was injured with 20 minutes to go in Saturday night’s match but with Getafe having already used all three substitutes, the 25-year-old, who is on loan from Maccabi Haifa, had to play through the pain barrier.
But despite fears that he could be forced out for another lengthy period, having already missed three months of the season with injury, agent Paschalis Tountouris confirms that Masilela has only sustained a light hamstring strain.
"It’s nothing serious – he’s hoping to be back for the next game after this weekend," he tells KickOff.com.
"The good news is that it's not like the previous injury that he had and now Tsepo is starting to get back to the rhythm of playing every week and get used to playing in the Spanish League."
Masilela is also suspended for this weekend's trip to play Rayo Vallecano after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in the clash with Mourinho’s side that saw Getafe surrender an unbeaten run of six matches.
The former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager made a point and running over to hug the Bafana left-back at the final whistle after his display of courage, and Tountouris admits he is proud of his efforts.
"He [Mourinho] was just congratulating him for playing the last 20 minutes even though he was injured," he says.
"Now Tsepo is the hero of the Getafe fans because he showed his commitment to the club by putting the team before his injury. They were very unlucky – they had chances to score and could have had a penalty to get a draw."
Masilela will now hope to prove his fitness in time for Bafana’s friendly against Senegal on February 29.
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: 2012-02-07 20:13
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