South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, will be without duo Thabiso Kutumela and Thibang Phete for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana after testing positive for Covid-19.
Phete, who plays for Portuguese club Belenenses SAD, was missing from training after his PCR (polymerase-chain reaction) test returned positive for Covid-19, and was isolated immediately.
Later on Wednesday, it was flagged that another test came back positive for Kutumela, as the team’s results became available throughout the morning.
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was also isolated.
“We have tried our level best to ensure that the national team remains safe while in camp,” Tshepo Molobi, Bafana Bafana team doctor, told SAFA’s media department.
“It is always daunting to try and pinpoint where and when the infection happened. Every measure is taken to ensure the safety of everyone in the camp.
“Unfortunately, we have to report the two Covid-positive cases that we’ve got in camp,” he said.
South Africa first come up against Zimbabwe on Friday, 3 September in Harare, before returning home to take on the Black Stars at FNB Stadium on Monday, 6 September.