Thabiso Kutumela, seen here training with his Bafana teammates on Tuesday, is on the plane to Ethiopia. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
Hugo Broos says Mamelodi Sundowns striker Thabiso Kutumela will travel with the Bafana Bafana squad to face Ethiopia on Saturday a Fifa World Cup qualifier in Bahir Dar, having showed no sign of a reaction to the Covid-19 vaccine.
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Broos was angry with Masandawana for sending Kutumela for a vaccine on Monday, when he was supposed to join up with the Bafana Bafana camp. The Belgian was concerned about the timing of the vaccine, and the fact that if the Sundowns striker had a bad reaction, Bafana would have to withdraw him from the squad.
“Kutumela is still here, we did not withdraw him,” said Broos.
“I said very clearly that because he was vaccinated (on Monday) there was a risk that he could have symptoms. For two days after the vaccination you can have symptoms – a fever, a cough or a flu. I was anxious, but he stayed with us and today we can say the risk is gone. There is no risk anymore of symptoms.
“At no moment did I think we should withdraw Kutumela, it was only that he could have symptoms. So he travels with us. He did all the trainings and no problem, he goes to Ethiopia.”
Broos, meanwhile has been happy with what his team have shown in training ahead of this vital Group G encounter – Bafana will also face Ethiopia at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
“I think we are ready, we had two good trainings (on Wednesday), especially at a tactical level. When you see how they are in training, you know they are ready,” said Broos.
“Sometimes you have a soft training, things that don’t work out and you are a bit anxious. This wasn’t the case here. This (Wednesday) morning we had training in defensive tactics and this afternoon we did offensive tactics. What we want and asked for on Saturday looks good in training.”