Mystery reigns as Samir Nurkovic continues to be on the sidelines at Royal AM.
Co-coach Khabo Zondo, when asked when the bustling striker will officially feature for the club, said he will rather talk about something else.
The bizarre of not seeing Nurkovic featuring for Royal AM is that he has been seen fully training with the club a few weeks ago and he even featured in the Macufe Cup in September against his former club Kaizer Chiefs.
In that game, he lasted 71 minutes, as Royal AM beat Amakhosi on penalties in Bloemfontein.
As he looked hungry on that day, expectations were high that Nurkovic was going to be playing in the next matches, but still the Serbian has not yet featured.
“For now can we not elaborate on Nurkovic? I’ll request that,” said Zondo in short.
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Nurkovic joined Royal AM from Chiefs at the beginning of the season, when he was carrying an injury. But the club has been working on his fitness.
However, there have been unconfirmed reports that Nurkovic was set to see his contract terminated by Royal AM.
It doesn’t get any easier for Royal AM as they host log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday (18:00).
On top of Nurkovic, Royal AM have plenty of players who are out injured ahead of the clash with the Tshwane giants. Goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo, who has been deputizing for the injured Patrick Nyame, picked up a hamstring injury in a 3-1 victory against Golden Arrows at Chatsworth Stadium and was taken off in the second half on Tuesday.
They are also without their captain Samuel Manganyi, Tebogo Potsane, Khetho Ndlovu and Kabelo Mahlasela. Zondo has cast doubts whether any of them will be available as playing in the CAF Confederation Cup has been felt.
“I think 30 percent of those players won’t be ready. The likes of Mahlasela – we have Potsane that has not been training for about two to three weeks now from the day we played Macufe Cup,” he added.
“We have Patrick (injured and recovering at home), the hospital is now full. But we have players who can come in and fill in those positions.”
