Mamelodi Sundowns lock their focus on to their next DStv Premiership as they head to Limpopo to face Sekhukhune United on Saturday afternoon. The Brazilians however have been without one of their key midfielders Rivaldo Coetzee who last featured for the Tshwane giants on March 2 this year and had to be pulled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to a hernia injury that he suffered during a league match.
The defensive midfielder spoke about his road to recovery, as well as sharing guidance on how to overcome injury setbacks, he said: “For me there isn’t anything special, but mentally you have to be very strong to deal with the injury especially if you’re going to be out for a couple of months. The people that you surround yourself with such as family and friends, they can also help you to lighten the mood because it can get depressing but if your home life is good then it helps quite a lot.”
“I am feeling strong, so far so good even though I can obviously do with a little bit of sharpness. We are just taking it one day at a time, there is no timetable for me to get back to training with the full team. For now I am just working on myself and trying to get stronger.”
The Tshwane giants eagerly anticipate the 2022-23 CAF Champions League campaign they last won in 2016 and have spent the last six years chasing, despite their domestic dominance. Coetzee noted the African trophy as one of his desires when he returns from his injury.
“I want to finish the Champions League group stages because last season I only played three games in the group stages, then I was out since then. I want to help the team in the Champions League as we try to win it every year and that will be my personal goal as well because I know that’s the way which the team wants to go. The Champions League is the big one, but we must also not lose focus on the domestic trophies, we want to retain the league title and obviously win as many domestic cups as we can.”
