Kwanda Mngonyama did not even want to comment on the possibility that his Olympic dream hangs in the balance after having to be sent home injured from the Cosafa Cup.
His suitcase packed‚ the worried frown on the Bafana Bafana defender’s face‚ though‚ said it all as he made his way from the team hotel to his awaiting transfer to Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Mngonyama will have to rest completely for two weeks with a hamstring injury before resuming light training with Maritzburg United.
Bafana team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said the defender will still not be available for the South African Under-23s’ away friendly international against Japan on June 29.
Mngonyama played down his disappointment at missing out on a crucial build-up period where players are jockeying for places at Rio 2016.
“That’s for sure‚ it’s disappointing‚ but it’s part of the game‚” the centreback said.
“If something like this happens you have to accept it and move forward.
“Obviously the time will come and the chance will come. It’s all about the right time and chances in this game.
“I have to be patient‚ so that I can recover properly and then I can move forward.
“If I’m out someone else will be ready to take their chance.”
Mngonyama was brought to Namibia as part of the Bafana team comprising U-23 players‚ competing in the Cosafa Cup as part of their preparation for the Rio Olympic Games men’s football tournament in August.
It was hoped a hamstring strain he picked up in a training match against an amateur team on the day before the team left on Wednesday last week would not be serious.
An ultrasound performed in Windhoek revealed that the Maritzburg defender has a Grade 1 hamstring injury.
“It was an awkward fall that I had in the training match. I didn’t feel it at first‚ but then after the match I could feel the pain‚” Mngonyama said.
Asked if perhaps his Olympic dream now hangs in the balance‚ the defender would only say: “No comment.”
Bidvest Wits’ Phumlani Ntshangase has also been sent back from the Cosafa Cup suffering from gastric ulcers.
The Bafana medical team wanted the midfielder to have a gastroscopy‚ which was not available in Windhoek.
Bafana beat Lesotho 4-2 on penalties in their Cosafa quarterfinal at Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday‚ after normal time ended at 1-1.
The South Africans return to Sam Nujoma’s artificial surface on Wednesday to meet Swaziland in the semifinals.
Disappointed Mngonyama returns home with Olympic dream hanging in balance
Kwanda Mngonyama did not even want to comment on the possibility that his Olympic dream hangs in the balance after having to be sent home injured from the Cosafa Cup.
His suitcase packed‚ the worried frown on the Bafana Bafana defender’s face‚ though‚ said it all as he made his way from the team hotel to his awaiting transfer to Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Mngonyama will have to rest completely for two weeks with a hamstring injury before resuming light training with Maritzburg United.
Bafana team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said the defender will still not be available for the South African Under-23s’ away friendly international against Japan on June 29.
Mngonyama played down his disappointment at missing out on a crucial build-up period where players are jockeying for places at Rio 2016.
“That’s for sure‚ it’s disappointing‚ but it’s part of the game‚” the centreback said.
“If something like this happens you have to accept it and move forward.
“Obviously the time will come and the chance will come. It’s all about the right time and chances in this game.
“I have to be patient‚ so that I can recover properly and then I can move forward.
“If I’m out someone else will be ready to take their chance.”
Mngonyama was brought to Namibia as part of the Bafana team comprising U-23 players‚ competing in the Cosafa Cup as part of their preparation for the Rio Olympic Games men’s football tournament in August.
It was hoped a hamstring strain he picked up in a training match against an amateur team on the day before the team left on Wednesday last week would not be serious.
An ultrasound performed in Windhoek revealed that the Maritzburg defender has a Grade 1 hamstring injury.
“It was an awkward fall that I had in the training match. I didn’t feel it at first‚ but then after the match I could feel the pain‚” Mngonyama said.
Asked if perhaps his Olympic dream now hangs in the balance‚ the defender would only say: “No comment.”
Bidvest Wits’ Phumlani Ntshangase has also been sent back from the Cosafa Cup suffering from gastric ulcers.
The Bafana medical team wanted the midfielder to have a gastroscopy‚ which was not available in Windhoek.
Bafana beat Lesotho 4-2 on penalties in their Cosafa quarterfinal at Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday‚ after normal time ended at 1-1.
The South Africans return to Sam Nujoma’s artificial surface on Wednesday to meet Swaziland in the semifinals.
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