Birthday boy Rivaldo returns for Ajax but has no presents for Chiefs
Defender Rivaldo Coetzee‚ who missed two Bafana Bafana assignments over the last week‚ has returned to full training with Ajax Cape Town and is expected to feature against Kaizer Chiefs away in Durban in a crunch Premier Soccer League match at the weekend. The defender‚ who turns 20 on Sunday‚ had suffered a hamstring injury but the international break has afforded him time to recover.It is also the same case with Musa Lebusa‚ who‚ like Coetzee‚ was forced from the field with a similar affliction when Ajax played their last match in the derby against Cape Town City on September 23.Thabo Mosadi‚ the new 25-year-old signing from the University of Pretoria‚ played against City despite his own hamstring injury but has been rested since.Coetzee’s hamstring tear likely to rule him out of Bafana World Cup qualifierA scan has confirmed a hamstring tear for Rivaldo Coetzee and‚ although Ajax Cape Town have not yet withdrawn him from the national team squad‚ it is unlikely the teenage centre back will play in next weekend’s World Cup qualifier in Burkina Faso. He also resumed training at the start of the week.“They are all medically fit but not football fit‚” said coach Roger de Sa.“We’ll make a decision on them on Thursday before we leave. It will be a bit of a juggling act.“We pushed them in training on Tuesday in particular and they played without any pain. They seem to be fine.” Also back is Prince Nxumalo‚ who had been in hospital last month with a bout of meningitis.“He is getting stronger and he has been having catch up sessions and is ready to go again.”Tashreeq Morris‚ who returned from the Olympic Games with an injury‚ played 60 minutes in the weekend’s Multichoice Diski Challenge matches for Ajax’s reserves.“I was happy with that and he is making progress‚” added the coach.The 21-year-old Morris would be itching to play against Chiefs after he scored on his debut against them three years ago.Missing against Chiefs will be the suspended Roscoe Pietersen and Kenyan international Ali Abondo‚ who is still injured. - TMG Digital..
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