Rulani worried about his stars

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has raised concerns over the physical condition of his star performers that he rested for the 2-0 over Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday.

First choice goalkeeper and Bafana captain Ronwen Williams (below) was not in the matchday squad. Reigning PSL Footballer of Season Teboho Mokoena as well as the evergreen Themba Zwane were also given a break.

The three players form part of seven Sundowns players that have been picked for South Africa’s squad that will take on Andorra and Algeria in international friendlies over the next two weeks.

The Brazilians will take on Young Africans in the quarterfinal of the Caf Champions League when the Fifa break concludes. Mokwena is clearly worried about the extra workload the friendlies are likely to add to his player’s schedule.

“It’s tough because Ronza (Ronwen Williams) is struggling with a shoulder injury and we’ve got a very important champions league game and Tebza (Teboho Mokoena) is struggling with a knee and they’ve had them since the Afcon,” he stressed.

“It’s only now that we have Mothobi Mvala back and Sailor (Khuliso Mudau) is also back but we still have a problem with Thapelo Maseko who also got the injury at the Afcon. We try to protect our players as best as we can. A rest is important so that they can minus the load.

“It helps with the schedule we have and they are fresher for the champions league. But it’s not easy because at the same time we have to win games and you can’t say to people that we didn’t have Aubrey Modiba, Ronwen and Tebza but you know how important they are to us.”