Why the season is over for Mamelodi Sundowns striker Abubeker Nasir

The Ethiopian international made his debut for The Brazilians in August 2022, but twice suffered serious injuries the coach says are “career threatening”.

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Nasir was back on the operating table in December that same year following a horror challenge from Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane, and Mokwena explains why he will not feature this season.

''Nasir has got a very difficult injury and a very complicated one - that he sustained in the Pirates game with Mpontshane. He hasn't recovered, and it's a bit unfortunate,'' said Mokwena.

With Sundowns needing a foreign spot to accommodate latest signing Matias Esquivel from Argentina, the decision was to de-register Nasir.

But Mokwena did not want to publicly confirm this.

''The Nasir one, will wait for the club to make an announcement, that one is off my table. I think a lot of you have a direct contact to the sources at the club to get a better answer,'' added Mokwena.

Mokwena did, however, tell journalists that Nasir has a tough road ahead of him if he is to make a full recovery despite doubts whether he will play again.

 ''When you use the term career threatening, that situation with Nasir is indeed career threatening. Nasir needs all the support, luckily he's with a club that looks after its players. Hopefully we will see him back at the club sooner than later,'' he concluded. 

There is some good news in the Sundowns camp shared by Mokwena.

The coach highlighted the return of defender Divine Lunga, who – as reported by SABC Sport earlier this year – has been registered as a local player.

He was named in the starting line-up in the 1-1 draw against Pirates on Saturday.