Tembo counts cost of injured players

With captain Dean Furman out for at least three months after sustaining a shoulder injury and Bradley Grobler set to undergo an operation this week, Kaitano Tembo (left) says he is left with no choice but to have confidence in the players who are fit and available.

The SuperSport United injury list includes Fagrie Lakay, Evans Rusike and Thabo Mnyamane, who all leave Tembo with little options in attack.

“We are a bit thin up front but at the same time we need to believe ... and have confidence in the guys who are available, they are the ones who will play and we have to believe in them,” said Tembo.

“We have been really unlucky that Thabo (Mnyamane) has only played 10 minutes this season, Bradley Grobler is going for an operation and we don’t know how long he is going to be out.

“Dean has just had a shoulder operation and will be out for three months. Fagrie is also out, he still has about two to three weeks before he returns to training. Evans as well, he has just started training after missing out for about three weeks,” he added.

Ghampani Lungu and Kamohelo Mahlatsi have been embracing the opportunity of slotting in for the injured players, particularity youngster Mahlatsi, who was given some game time in a 1-1 draw at home to Golden Arrows. Tembo described him as a raw talent and says he still has to polish him.

“He is still young and is technically very good. He is very good in one-on-ones. We brought him on against Arrows to inject a little bit of energy.

“You can see there is a lack of experience, he still has to learn when to pass the ball and to play one-touch or twotouch. He was one dimensional, just running and taking on defenders with his head down, but he will learn. The only way he can learn is by playing. He can’t learn by just sitting on the bench.”

SuperSport’s next match is a Telkom Knockout quarterfinal this weekend at Kaizer Chiefs.