Sundowns update: Defender left behind, doubtful for start of season
Mamelodi Sundowns are in the Netherlands for their pre-season camp where they will play FOUR high-profile friendly matches. ALSO READ | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS TO PLAY FOUR MATCHES IN THE NETHERLANDS However, they will have to play those matches without defender Rushine de Reuck who was forced to remain behind due to a knee injury. According to Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena, De […]
Mamelodi Sundowns are in the Netherlands for their pre-season camp where they will play FOUR high-profile friendly matches.
ALSO READ | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS TO PLAY FOUR MATCHES IN THE NETHERLANDS
However, they will have to play those matches without defender Rushine de Reuck who was forced to remain behind due to a knee injury.
According to Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena, De Reuck injured himself at training and that he had to undergo surgery.
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Mokwena revealed that the injury is not as bad as he initially thought, and that Dr Reuck is already recovering at home.
And he hopes to have him back into the Sundowns team as soon as possible but chances are that De Reuck will miss the start of the season.
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Sundowns get their title defence underway away to Sekhukhune United on Friday, 4 August at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled 19:30.
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SUNDOWNS LEAVE INJURED DEFENDER BEHIND
“It was a very freaky incident at training and it was a pity because he had played the first match of the first friendly [matches] and he had played very, very well. He returned back in very, very good shape, but he landed awkwardly and then felt a very sharp pain in and around the knee. Upon observation the doctors felt that instead of being very conservative, the time frame for the layout would be the same as a conservative approach and yet you could get probably greater long-term benefits if you weren’t a little bit more on the surgical route,” Mokwena told the Sundowns website.
“[After thorough] consultation with a knee specialist and with Rushine, we felt that the right approach was to go surgical. The surgery went well, he is already home and the players had him on the phone and we all wished him a speedy recovery. Hopefully he’ll be back in time to still continue and make a great contribution to this season because he has got qualities for sure that make us believe that he can be one of our best center-backs.”
“[We wish him] a speedy recovery and he knows that our well wishes are with him and and I’m sure because he’s a strong strong boy, and because also it’s not as bad as it was anticipated upon first observation, I’m sure the boy will be back sooner than later.”