Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile had a successful surgery and will hopefully return sooner than expected, head coach Rulani Mokwena has suggested.
Shalulile went under the knife after being diagnosed with a sports hernia, as previously reported by this website, and talks over potentially signing reinforcements in attacking areas were discussed within the technical team.
However, after the 3-0 MTN8 defeat in the semi-final against Orlando Pirates, which resulted in Mokwena being elevated as the sole head coach of the club, it followed with a convincing 5-0 thumping of Maritzburg United without a recognised number nine named in the starting eleven.
Mokwena has since confirmed that they won’t see him back before the break but they are hopeful that he’ll fit for the starting line-up again when football resumes before the start of the new year.
“He’s being attended to by specialists, he has undergone surgery but it’s something that is not too much of a concern and hopefully we get him back as soon as possible,” he said after the win at Harry Gwala Stadium.
“But for sure… he’s not available until the World Cup break is over. It was a bit of a very difficult diagnosis, but related to a sports hernia, but also not a sports hernia, so it’s a bit complicated – that’s why he had to see three different specialists.
“But fortunately, an incredible human being, good boy, so you can expect him, without putting too much pressure on him… you can expect him sooner than we anticipated but not as big as we had thought.
“[He had a] very successful [surgery] he’s on his way back, hopefully, we can get him on the green grass sooner than we think.”
The 29-year-old Nambia international has scored 58 goals and registered 17 assists for Sundowns in 95 games since joining the club from Highlands Park in September 2020.
