The first-team players of Mamelodi Sundowns are now on a midseason break to prepare for the balance of the 2022/23 season. Rivaldo Coetzee, who suffered a hernia injury at the start of the year, is currently back with the Brazilians and working on his fitness. While other players will be returning home, he will utilize the time to improve his fitness.
Coetzee stated that he will not return home during the team’s break in order to further his physical training. I will be in Johannesburg since I have more job to do. As there is still work to be done in order for me to be totally ready for games, I will focus mostly on strengthening the region where I had surgery.
The defender made his post-injury ‘debut’ during the Carling Black Label Cup semi-final match between Orlando Pirates and Bafana Ba Style at FNB Stadium. Bafana Ba Style advanced with four goals and won their first-ever Carling Cup.
The Masandawana utility player stated that he is looking forward to putting in the additional effort to return to the field and that he is conscious he has work harder to be in the starting eleven. “I am aware that I must work hard to maintain my position on the squad and to get playing time.”
The former Ajax Cape Town Academy graduate continued, “Now that the FIFA World Cup break has begun, I expect to reach my fitness objective. The vacation will provide me sufficient time to reach my fitness objectives.”
On the 28th of November 2022, Mamelodi Sundowns will return from their midseason break to prepare for their DSTV Premiership match against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
»“There is still work to be done before I am completely prepared for games.” — Rivaldo Coetzee«