POLOKWANE – Itumeleng Khune is not yet ruled out of Bafana Bafana’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Senegal on Friday.
The country watched the national team goalkeeper being stretched off the pitch at the weekend while playing for his club Kaizer Chiefs, when he collided with Chippa United midfielder Kurt Lentjies in the dying minutes of their Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash.
He suffered a fracture to a bone on his face.
Khune, who is in Bafana’s squad to face the Lions of Teranga in two back-to-back must-win encounters to reach the World Cup in Russia next year, was rushed to hospital in Port Elizabeth for a scan to determine the extent of his injury.
He had not reported for camp in Polokwane by Monday afternoon.
“What we know is that he is going to see a specialist and then we will take it from there,” said Bafana doctor Thulani Ngwenya.
“You know that in medicine we deal with facts, and right now we cannot rule him out, neither can we declare him fit.
“We are hopeful that he can be with us in camp before Friday’s game. There is no crack on his facial injury, which is a good sign. But we will have all the information on Tuesday.”
Bafana Bafana have arrived in Polokwane to start preparations for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal on Friday. Kick off 19h00 pic.twitter.com/fR7oSIc7Uw
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 6, 2017
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter also revealed that five overseas-based players – Andile Jali, Dino Ndlovu, Thulani Serero, Lebogang Manyama and Keagan Dolly – were only expected in camp tomorrow morning.
Khune, if declared fit, will also arrive along with his Chiefs teammates on Tuesday.
@superjourno