It appears that Orlando Pirates players Oupa Manyisa and Siyabonga Sangweni will not be available for Bafana Bafana’s friendly match against Zambia in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on November 14. Both players sustained injuries during the weekend match against Free State Stars, which ended 1-0.
In response to these injuries, South Africa’s coach, Gordon Igesund, has made adjustments to the squad. Sibuniso Gaxa from Kaizer Chiefs has been called in to replace the injured Sangweni. However, Igesund has indicated that he does not intend to find a direct replacement for Manyisa in the midfield, as he believes the team is already sufficiently stocked in that position.
Injuries are a common part of football, and coaches often need to adapt their lineups based on the availability of players. The Nelson Mandela Challenge provides an opportunity for national teams to test their squads and give opportunities to different players, and the adjustments in the squad reflect the need to deal with unforeseen circumstances such as injuries.
