Nasir’s Downs future in doubt after injury nightmare
The future of Abubeker Nasir hangs in the balance at Mamelodi Sundowns, with injury hampering his progress at the club.
Indications are that the Ethiopian international was deregistered as one of the foreigners in the team to make room for January transfer window signing Matias Esquivel, putting doubt into his future at Chloorkop.
Nasir has for the most part been out of action since sustaining an injury following a clash with Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane in 2022. It is a big knock he has been unable to fully shake off, which explains why he would return to the line-up and then be out on the sidelines again.
The Siya crew understands that the attacker is not expected to turn out for the Brazilians for the rest of the campaign and a decision will be made on his future with the side, with the possibility of an exit. It’s a big blow for the Ethiopian, who showed a lot of promise when he first arrived at the club. Kaizer Chiefs had also expressed an interest in acquiring him.
He had a blistering start to life as a Sundowns player, and is a beloved character in the dressing room, but the injury has left Nasir frustrated and it is a sad turn of events for a player that fans were so excited about when he signed.
The club will assess his situation in the coming months and will make an announcement on what happens next with him at the club. Head coach Rhulani Mokwena last week hinted that the Ethiopian, who turns 24 on Friday (23 February), could be leaving.
“The Nasir one, (I) will wait for the club to make an announcement. That one is off my table. I think a lot of you have a direct contact to the sources at the club to get a better answer,” he told journalists.