Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed a significant setback for both the club
and the national team, with rising defender Malibongwe Khoza ruled out due
to injury.
The 21-year-old centre-back, widely tipped for a senior Bafana Bafana
breakthrough, sustained an ankle injury during Sundowns’ CAF Champions
League match against Nigeria’s Remo Stars. The news deals a double blow,
sidelining him for the club’s crucial Betway Premiership showdown against
Orlando Pirates and the upcoming international break.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso confirmed the news at a PSL and Betway press
conference on Thursday. “Regarding Mali – as you saw, he got injured in the
Remo Stars match away. He didn’t break any bone, but he had an issue on his
ankle,” Cardoso stated.
While the injury is not a fracture, the recovery process has been slower
than hoped. Cardoso emphasized that Khoza’s absence is purely medical, but
noted the challenge of losing a key talent. “Mali is still injured. He will
not be able, unfortunately, to perform or to play,” the coach said. “We
expect him to come back very quickly, but he will also not be available for
the national team.”
This development is a major disappointment for Bafana Bafana coach Hugo
Broos, who had included Khoza in his preliminary squad for a key friendly
against Zambia—a vital warm-up ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Khoza’s absence adds to the selection headaches for both Sundowns and
Pirates ahead of their blockbuster Loftus Versfeld clash, with both sides
now navigating significant squad disruptions.
