thapelo morena

Motjeka Madisa of Mamelodi Sundowns reacts while Thapelo Morena of Mamelodi Sundowns leaving the field after being injured during the 2020 Nedbank Cup match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria on 08 February 2020 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Sundowns winger Morena set for lengthy spell out after horrific injury

Thapelo Morena was stretchered off the pitch during Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1-0 win over Supersport United.

thapelo morena

Motjeka Madisa of Mamelodi Sundowns reacts while Thapelo Morena of Mamelodi Sundowns leaving the field after being injured during the 2020 Nedbank Cup match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria on 08 February 2020 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

The Nedbank Cup victory over Supersport United was not all too joyous for Mamelodi Sundowns, who lost one of their key players in Thapelo Morena to a horrific ankle injury.

Saturday’s Tshwane Derby ended 1-0 in favour of the Brazilians, but not before the winger was stretchered off after a slide gone wrong in the second half, which resulted in his foot facing an unnatural position.

Concern over Thapelo Morena

He was stretchered off in the 71st minute, replaced by Lebohang Maboe.

Coach Pitso Mosimane was a concerned man after the match, citing the impact a lengthy spell on the sidelines could have on the team for the rest of the season.

“I haven’t got the full update on him. Very sad, we need Thapelo for Champions League and I think the ankle came off, I don’t know but I think they managed to put it back. I’m not sure about that,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

“The pitch is soft so I think it (Morena’s ankle) got stuck in there and couldn’t get the leg out. Disappointed with that because we need him for Champions League and we need him for the rest of the season. But football is a professional sport so these things do happen.”

Pitso Mosimane

Sundowns gave an update on Morena on Sunday morning, revealing that he will undergo go an operation later in the day.

Speaking about the game, Mosimane was pleased with how his charges carried themselves in the contest, despite the narrow winning margin.

They looked more dangerous and a better playing team when they were passing the ball around and they made us to defend a lot.

“But they changed the strategy when it was 15 minutes to go and they played into our hands…they played the long balls and we have Mosa (Lebusa) who took out all the aerial balls.

“Ricardo (Nascimento) took all the aerial balls, (Motjeka) Madisha took them same as Anele (Ngcongca) they are good in aerial strength and that did not help them.

“I think they could’ve hurt us if they continued playing the way they were playing. But we played the level of Champions League. We can play quiet, loud. Tonight we played quiet and we are through to the final.”

Pitso Mosimane

Sundowns return to league action on Saturday, 15 February as they take on Chippa United.