Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has expressed his hope that
injured forwards Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro will be able to feature
in the African Football League semi-finals first leg against Al Ahly on
Sunday. The Brazilians have been without the two key players since they
returned from the international break, but have managed to advance to the
semi-finals in spite of their absences.
The Tshwane giants were without seven key players who were away with
Bafana Bafana against the Rockets and they bounced back with a 2-0 win
over Petro de Luanda in the quarter-final first-leg in the African
Football League away and grinded out a goalless draw in the second leg on
Tuesday, as they booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 2-0 aggregate
win.
Speaking at a press conference, Mokwena expressed his hope that the two
forwards will be able to make a return soon. “I hope very soon, I’m on my
knees, I bow my head every night and I pray and ask God to perform the
miracles that he has performed in the Bible you know,” he said. “You’ve
seen Jesus Christ turn water into wine, you’ve seen him give power to
Moses to cross the red sea, in the main miracles that he has performed, my
prayer to him is to perform one more. Just like he did when he raised the
dead just through a mere touch, Jesus Christ and my prayer is just that he
resuscitate and he brings back Lucas, Peter and Thapelo (Morena), as soon
as we possibly can, because for sure they make a big difference.”
The latest injury updates from Sundowns before their AFL quarter-final
second leg clash against Petro, was that Shalulile is on stage 2 in
rehabilitation of his ankle injury, Ribeiro on stage 3 of his knee injury
rehab and Morena on stage 2 rehab of his abdominal injury. Other
Brazilians players who are also out injured include, Sipho Mbule, Bathusi
Aubaas and Siyanda Nyanga.
