Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has alluded to how Bafana Bafana counterpart Hugo Broos should handle his players in the upcoming FIFA series.
Bafana departed for the FIFA international friendlies pilot project in Algeria on Sunday with only 15 players, as Sundowns and SuperSport United players were left behind due to their participation in the Nedbank Cup and only departed on Monday, a day after the round of 16 clashes (for Matsatsantsa two days later).
Hugo Broos' charges are set to play against Andorra on Thursday and then face hosts Algeria next Tuesday, 26 March.
Masandawana played against Maritzburg United on Sunday without Bafana players, in goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba.
Following the Tshwane giants' 2-0 win over the Team of Choice, Mokwena addressed the sensitive issue of Sundowns players in the national team, as he confirmed that the missing players against United were rested and did not travel with Bafana yet.
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The 37-year-old coach cautioned, speaking to journalists after their win over United, that Williams and Mokoena are carrying injuries and should be handled with care ahead of the CAF Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash against Young Africans after the FIFA break.
"They were rested, they were rested because they've got niggling injuries, to be honest and that's really the truth. Are the injuries strong enough to keep them away from Bafana?" Mokwena said to reporters at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
"I don't know because I think as a club we've always supported the national team agenda always and we'll continue to do that.
"But if we can… rest a bit 'Mshishi' (Themba Zwane, who is also in Bafana squad), even though he's suspended for Tanzania, Mshishi is suspended with bookings, so he's not gonna be available for the first-leg. But Mshishi is very important for us," he said.
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The former Orlando Pirates tactician went on and went into details about Williams and Mokoena's injuries.
"Ronza (Williams) is struggling with a shoulder and we've got a very difficult Champions League game, Tebza (Mokoena) is struggling with a knee and he's had it since Afcon," Mokwena went on.
"Ronza has had the shoulder (injury) since Afcon. Now we have Sailor (Khuliso Mudau) back but we still have problems (Thapelo) Maseko who got an injury also at Afcon. We try to work for Sundowns and try to protect our players as much as we possible can.
"So a rest so that they could minus the load, minutes one 90 minutes helps in the schedule and freshness for the Champions League. But it's not easy because at the same time you have to win games because you can't say to people you didn't have Modiba, Ronza, Tebza and we all know how important these players are for us," he added.
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