Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has provided an update on the status of striker Peter Shalulile, who has been out of competitive football since October last year. The Namibian international underwent surgery for a mysterious sports hernia injury and has been ruled out indefinitely.
️Sundowns have scored 19 goals in 6 games without Peter Shalulile pic.twitter.com/AtR1lXpPSA
— Football SA (@SAFootClassics) January 4, 2023
However, Mokwena believes Shalulile is ready to return to action, but has been held back on the advice of the medical department. “Peter is a different specimen, has a completely different social life, he lives only football, he breathes football, he’s fit, he’s strong, he trains,” said Mokwena in a press conference.
The former Pirates coach praised the club’s medical department for the brilliant work they have done in handling Rivaldo Coetzee’s serious injuries and affirmed that he has no reason to doubt their medical recommendations. “You can go as far as Riva (Rivaldo Coetzee) for example and how they have brought him back and so their advise is far more important than mine,” Mokwena said.
“And they have advised we tread a little bit cautiously with Peter but I don’t think Peter is far off because of the specimen that he is, different profile. So I don’t think he’s far off,” he added.
Despite his long injury lay-off, Shalulile is only one goal shy of joint-top leading goal-scorers in the league, SuperSport United striker Bradley Grobler and Kaizer Chiefs forward Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, who are both tied on seven goals.
Dstv Premiership
Top Goal ScorersBradley Grobler 7 Goals 1 Assist
Caleb Bimenyimana 7 Goals 1 Assist
Peter Shalulile 6 Goals 1 AssistDStvPrem LwaziSport pic.twitter.com/QqeUCD8LVK— (@Lwazi_Ntanga1) January 3, 2023