Injury may dent Khumalo's Rangers hopes

Bafana Bafana central defender Bongani Khumalo has been ruled out of the friendly international against Ghana at Soccer City on August 11.

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt yesterday revealed that his tough-tackling captain had injured ankle ligaments and would be out of action for at least two weeks.

The injury is not only a blow for Bafana, but also to the 23-year-old Khumalo's hopes of being offered a contract by English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur or Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

Khumalo was one of the emerging stars for South Africa at the recent World Cup finals, where his gutsy and intelligent play attracted the attention of the two high-profile British clubs.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has gone on record that he was keen to sign both Khumalo and Bafana teammate Katlego Mphela, the Mamelodi Sundowns striker. Mphela has also been a target of former Rangers manager Alex McLeish, who is now in charge of English Premiership outfit Birmingham City.

Hunt has had no option but to rule his skipper out of Sunday's African Confederations Cup showdown with FUS Rabat in the Moroccan capital. The South African Premiership champions won the first leg of the third-round match 2-1 at the Super Stadium.

The SuperSport coach has already told Khumalo that he will not be playing for his country against Ghana in preparation for Bafana's first 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Niger in September.

"I need to get Khumalo fit for the Premiership season, which kicks off at the end of August when we play Wits. I hope to have him ready for that match (at Milpark on August 28), but there is no chance that he will travel with our squad to Rabat or be fit to play for Bafana against Ghana."

Hunt is in the dark about Khumalo's trials with Spurs and Rangers.

"As the club's coach, I am the last to know about player movements. It is not an ideal situation reading in the newspapers where my players are intending to play in the coming season.

"The game is now all about agents, but at this stage, Bongani is still contracted to us."

However, he has more pressing problems ahead of his trip to North Africa as there will be no back-up goalkeeper in his travelling squad of 13 players. Third-choice Jacob Mokhasi is his only available keeper registered with the Confederation of African Football for this competition.

Emille Baron is still recovering from a serious injury suffered during Bafana's camp in Brazil in March, while Denis Onyango was recently transferred to Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Apart from Khumalo and Baron, Hunt will travel to Morocco without experienced striker Glen Salmon, who has broken down with a knee injury similar to what sidelined him at the end of last season.

Due to Caf rules, the SuperSport boss is unable to sign replacements for Onyango or players who have left the club during the off-season. - Sapa

"If I had my full squad, I would have murdered FUS home or away, but we go to Rabat on a wing and prayer. We'll do our best with 13 players," he said.

Hunt has signed 33-year-old Bury goalkeeper Wayne Brown, who has made over 500 appearances for the English League Two club.

"There are no top keepers available in South Africa. If there are, please send them to me. That is why I had to go to England.

"(Brown) will be an asset to us, but like (defender-midfielder) Bradley Carnel and (striker) Kermit Erasmus, who I have also signed, he cannot play against FUS due to Caf's outdated registration rulings." - Sapa