Rivaldo Coetzee

Rivaldo Coetzee of Mamelodi Sundowns during 2017 CAF Mamelodi sundowns Media day at Chloorkop on 14 September 2017 (Photo: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Rivaldo Coetzee in doubt for Caf Champions League clash

Mamelodi Sundowns are sweating over the fitness of defender Rivaldo Coetzee, who picked up a niggle ahead of the Caf Champions League second-round clash against Al-Ahli Benghazi in Cairo on Sunday. The 22-year-old recently returned to full fitness after a long-term foot injury that saw him miss out on a move to Scottish outfit Glasgow […]

Rivaldo Coetzee

Rivaldo Coetzee of Mamelodi Sundowns during 2017 CAF Mamelodi sundowns Media day at Chloorkop on 14 September 2017 (Photo: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix)

Mamelodi Sundowns are sweating over the fitness of defender Rivaldo Coetzee, who picked up a niggle ahead of the Caf Champions League second-round clash against Al-Ahli Benghazi in Cairo on Sunday.

The 22-year-old recently returned to full fitness after a long-term foot injury that saw him miss out on a move to Scottish outfit Glasgow Celtic last year.

Having made a competitive return to action earlier this month, the young defender looks to have suffered another setback, as he sustained a training-ground injury, deepening the 2016 African Champions’ woes.

Rivaldo Coetzee adds long injury list

Coach Pitso Mosimane was left sweating over the club’s long queue to the physio’s table.

“We need players back, and it is unfortunate because sometimes I say I have five centre-backs, but suddenly Ricardo Nascimento is out‚ Motjeka Madisha stamped on Rivaldo Coetzee at training, and Mosa Lebusa was suspended and also had flu against Baroka‚” Mosimane said.

“We have three centrebacks out at the same time, and sometimes you say‚ ‘Why do you need a lot?’ But that’s how football works. For the match against Baroka. We also lost Themba Zwane at training.”

Sundwons dive into the unknown

Sundowns need to beat the Libyan outfit over two legs to secure a place in the group stage of the champions league – the same round they exited the competition in its last edition.

The away leg poses the challenge of diving into the unknown, as there has been very little footage available to assist in assessing their opponents.

“It is difficult because we can’t get footage because they are not on TV. We sent our analyst to help us, and he got some footage through the way we always get it‚” Mosimane said.

The two sides square off tomorrow before meeting again in the second leg in Pretoria on Friday.