MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 04: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena during the Mamelodi Sundowns media open day at Chloorkop on October 04, 2023 in Midrand, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has opened up on the chances of the injured forwards Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro featuring against Al Ahly in the African Football League semi-finals first leg on Sunday.
The Brazilians have been without key forwards Shalulile and Ribeiro since they returned from the international break, as they were knocked out of the Carling Knockout in the first round by TS Galaxy on penalties, after a 2-2 draw in extra-time.
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The Tshwane giants, however, were also 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.
Sundowns will have a big game against Al Ahly in the AFL semi-final first leg on Sunday and Mokwena opened up on whether they could have Shalulile and Ribeiro back from injuries.
“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,” Mokwena said in a press conference.
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“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.
“But you also have to compliment the rest of the players that have come in and have shown that we can count on them,” he added.
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.
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