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SuperSport United forward Grobler pulls out of Bafana Bafana camp, Sithebe selected
Another injury casualty has hit the national team following the withdrawal of six players on Sunday
South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki has confirmed SuperSport United forward Bradley Grobler has withdrawn from Bafana Bafana’s squad for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifiers against Sao Tome e Principe due to injury.
He has since been replaced by AmaZulu midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe.
Bafana will host Sao Tome at Moses Mabhida Stadium on November 13, before facing the same side at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where they will officially be the away side.
Grobler is the latest blow for Ntseki who has already lost Thibang Phete, Thulani Serero, Andile Jali, Reeve Frosler and Thamsanqa Mkhize while Abubakar Mobara pulled out due to "medical reasons."
“This afternoon [Monday] after training we got some bad news about Bradley Grobler when he had to go for a scan. The scan results came back differently and we have lost Grobler in the team,” Ntseki told Marawa Sport Worldwide on Metro FM.
“The reason that all this is happening is because of Covid-19. Players started playing not at their best in terms of fitness levels. The games are becoming faster and physical and you have players mentally and emotionally getting involved in matches to win. We will see a lot of muscle problems because players did not have a proper pre-season to prepare themselves to go into the new season."
Grobler gets his injury just on his return to the national fold after being overlooked for last month’s international friendly matches against Namibia and Zambia.
Ntseki says it was easy to rope in Sithebe to replace Grobler because the AmaZulu man impressed him after he featured for 66 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Namibia.
Sithebe joins Orlando Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule, Mosa Lebusa, Thapelo Morena, Cape Towns City's Thabo Nodada and Bloemfontein Celtic centre-back Tshepo Rikhotso who have been called up to replace those who have failed to make it for camp.
“The last camp in Rustenburg was handy because after Bradley pulled out we are in Durban and we have Siyethemba Sithebe who was with us in Rustenburg,” said Ntseki.
“Siyethemba did very well. I did say something about Siyethemba and Thabo Nodada when I announced the team to say, look at the Bafana Bafana level, we compete for positions. At times you compete against some of the players who have been in the team before or those currently doing well at their respective clubs.
“That is why the likes of Siyethemba and Nodada were left out but the unfortunate injuries to some of the players have given them an opportunity to be called up and they will be joining us in camp. Siyethemba will be joining us tomorrow afternoon after going through the Covid-19 tests."
After two rounds of matches, South Africa are placed second in Group C led by Ghana who enjoy a three-point lead. Sao Tome anchor the standings, while Sudan are in position three.
