Bafana and Sundowns star set to miss the remainder of season

Published on

Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Sibusiso Vilakazi is set to miss the remainde of the 2018-19 Absa Premiership season due to injury.

The former Bidvest Wits captain ruptured his left Achilles tendon whilst on national team duty in friendly against cross-town rivals SuperSport United.

Stuart Baxter called up Cape Town City winger Gift Links to replace Vilakazi for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Seychelles.

Masandawana’s spokesperson Thulani Thuswa revealed the extent of the 28-year-old’s injury and suggested that he could miss the remainder of the defending league champions league campaign.

‘Sibusiso Vilakazi has been ruled out for a period of up to six months with a ruptured tendon. This means Vilakazi is unlikely to feature in the remainder of the 2018/19 season that will conclude in May next year,’ said Sundowns in a statement on Tuesday.

Vilakazi has been one of coach Pitso Mosimane’s key men in the side, featuring in seven of Sundowns’ matches in all competitions. He has two goals and one assist.

Mosimane, though, has a number of players in his squad to call on in the absence of Vilakazi. The likes of Gaston Sirino, Themba Zwane, Phakamani Mahlambi and Lebohang Maboe are all there to get the job done for Sundowns.

Vilakazi will miss out on the CAF Champions League and probably the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which is a big blow for him.

The former Bidvest Wits captain has received a lot of support from friends, family and supporters since sustaining the knock. This is not the first time in his career he has sustained a long-term injury.

Photo: Gallo Images

Post by

Marshall Gouts