Orlando Pirates players Tshepang Moremi and Masindi Nemtajela are facing a race against time to recover from injuries and make the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad. National team coach Hugo Broos is expected to announce his squad at the end of the month, and there are concerns over whether the two Buccaneers stars will be fit in time.
Moremi has been a regular member of the Bafana setup and was part of the squad at the AFCON tournament. However, he has not featured since suffering an injury against Kaizer Chiefs last month. The full extent of his injury has not been revealed, but there is still hope he could return before the end of the season, with Pirates having two matches remaining.
World Cup Selection Uncertainty
Nemtajela, on the other hand, has not been a regular in the national team. He received a call-up last year but failed to make the final AFCON squad. Despite this, his impressive form this season has kept him in contention as a possible backup option for Broos. The 22-year-old picked up an injury during Pirates’ 3-0 victory over Magesi FC, adding to the club’s growing injury concerns ahead of the international tournament.
If fit, both players could join a strong Pirates contingent expected to represent the South Africa national soccer team at the World Cup. The likes of Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Thalente Mbatha are all widely expected to make the squad after producing consistently strong performances throughout the season. Of the two injured Pirates players, Moremi appears more likely to secure a place in the final World Cup squad, provided his injury is not serious.
Bafana Bafana Squad Selection
The Buccaneers are on the verge of winning their first league title in 14 years and could do so this weekend against Durban City. With the World Cup squad announcement looming, the next few weeks will be crucial for Moremi and Nemtajela as they bid to recover from their injuries and make the cut for Broos’ squad.
A strong performance from the Pirates players could be just what Bafana Bafana needs to make a memorable impression at the World Cup. As the squad selection draws near, fans will be eagerly waiting to see if Moremi and Nemtajela will be part of the team.
