Broos: Why Mashego was not replaced

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has provided an update following fears surrounding a number of stars and also gave more detail behind the release of defender Terrence Mashego.

Mashego was announced to have returned to Cape Town City after just a few days in camp with Bafana, who are currently preparing to face Morocco in their opening 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group K qualifier.

The 23-year-old left-back arrived in good health but suffered a freak injury during one of the team's sessions prior to their departure for Rabat on Saturday evening, and Broos has explained that there was no time to call in a replacement.

"Mashego is out with a meniscus injury, so he has to go back to Cape Town for an operation. It's stupid because there was nothing happening - he just turned his knee, not in a duel or anything," Broos told SAFA media.

"But ok, we'll miss him, there's no time to replace him because there are visas and all these things, so ok, we can't make it a problem."

Bafana are therefore left with Innocent Maela and Lyle Lakay as the only recognised left-sided full-back in camp, though there are concerns over the Orlando Pirates star too.

"Maela is more a fear. He had an operation, I think, in December, and now he felt something on the other side and he's afraid that he might [have the same injury] again," explained Broos.

"But I think he will be ready for Thursday, we have to be a little calm with him."

Meanwhile, the 70-year-old tactician confirmed that skipper and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams will definitely play despite initially sitting out of training.

"With Ronwen, there is no problem, his knee was a little swollen after Monday's game with SuperSport [against Orlando Pirates], but now he's doing upper-body exercise and on Monday he'll be back in training and ready to play on Thursday," he concluded.