Thapelo Morena focused on future after missing two major tournaments

Mamelodi Sundowns utility player Thapelo Morena says he has accepted the disappointment of missing both the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup and is now concentrating on what lies ahead.

The 33-year-old returned to the Bafana Bafana squad this week after injuries ruled him out of the two tournaments. He had been an important member of the side during the Hugo Broos era, but was unable to join the team for the competitions in Morocco and the Americas respectively.

Morena was speaking before Sundowns’ FIFA Continental Cup match against Al-Ahli Saudi on Saturday afternoon. He said the experience had changed the way he approached his fitness and recovery, with a greater emphasis on the aspects of his preparation he could influence.

“I think the big thing that I’ve learnt and took from it was accepting what happened and focusing on the future because you don’t know what the future holds for you. Trying to do things a bit different mostly in the gym and all that,” Morena said.

The player has also been looking closely at the circumstances surrounding his injuries and considering what he can do differently in future.

“Trying to see what went wrong and what can I fix in terms of situations that I have. Some of the situations that I have. Some of the situations were not hamstring injuries, it was the one now when we went to the World Cup. It was a bad one but it’s something that I accepted and let go to focus on the future.”

Morena said returning to the national team had been particularly significant because there had been changes within Bafana Bafana, as well as a period in which injuries had kept him out of contention.

He was named by new Bafana mentor Pitso Mosimane in the squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea.

“It’s a great feeling seeing my name on the list yesterday. I think it’s one of those things when a soccer player plays football seeing his name in the national team squad besides you’ve been there but knowing there’s changes and there were a lot of things, also injuries but also being back in the squad it’s one of the best things to be,” he added.

Morena’s return gives him another opportunity to contribute to the national team after the injuries prevented him from taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup. His immediate focus, however, is on Sundowns’ meeting with Al-Ahli Saudi before turning his attention to the upcoming international qualifiers.