Chiefs’ Hlanti set for Bafana call-up after speedy injury recovery – report

Back in early October, Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter predicted Hlanti could be out of action for as long as six months.

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The 31-year-old has been sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon injury, but is said to be coming towards the end of his rehabilitation.

According to Phakaaathi, a source has now revealed that he could be available to face France on 29 March.

“He has been phoned by the coach to ask how he feels and if he could be called up to the team. Obviously Hlanti said ‘yes’ because he has started training and should be fully fit by the end of March,” said the source.

Baxter previously detailed the injury Hlanti suffered

Speaking to the media last year, Baxter explained how the injury happened and expressed fears that Hlanti could miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

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“I feel so sorry for S’fiso. We did a walk-through drill, we went into a handball drill and we went into 11 vs 11 for 15 minutes just to put down some patterns and tactical things for the game,” Baxter said at the time.

“We had done everything, and we’re in the last two minutes of the 15 minutes play, get a long cross for your pass, he was back paddling and he put his foot up behind him and I’m not joking… everyone within 20 minutes heard it, like a pistol shot.

“He went off and when I came off the field they said, ‘a total rupture’, they could do that where the Achilles is, they could put their fingers together

“I’ve had the same operation. He’s not going to be back for maybe six months,” concluded Baxter.

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