He's been dying to get a Bafana Bafana call-up, but it seems Thapelo Morena is not having much luck when it comes to representing his country at senior level.
After being overlooked by previous coach Stuart Baxter on a number of occasions, Morena finally got a call-up from new man at the helm Molefi Ntseki. It was no doubt a deserved call-up, as Morena has been one of Sundowns' most consistent players in the last two years. He has given head coach Pitso Mosimane the option of playing him at right back, further up the field on the right flank or as a striker, often using his pace to unsettle the opposition defenders.
It seems, however, his luck with Bafana has not always been so great. The last time he received a national team call-up was before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) back-to-back qualifiers against Seychelles, but he pulled out of the squad with a quad injury and he is now nursing a groin injury.
The former Bloemfontein Celtic had, early this season, spoken about his desire to represent the senior national team and will be hoping to get another opportunity in future, when he is fully fit to play.
Goalkeeper Darren Keet, meanwhile, has been ruled out as well, while he tries to sort out his work permit in Belgium.