A revival of the well-documented public war of words between Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena and Bafana Bafana mentor Hugo Broos could be on the cards following the injury Khuliso Mudau played through in the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates.
Pirates wingback Deon Hotto was adjudged to have fouled Mudau inside the box in the sixth minute of the match, with referee Sikhumbuzo Gasa pointing to the spot.
On the evidence of it, Mudau never really recovered from the challenge with Hotto, where the Sundowns fullback's shoulder came out the worst for wear.
He hung on to play the full 90 minutes, though at times appeared to have been pleading to be taken off due to the pain he was feeling.
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Mokwena explained the decision not to substitute Mudau, saying the team "needed" him.
"We needed him. We just needed him. I mean, he's an important player. He was playing very well. His dribble is what led to the penalty," revealed the coach post-match.
This would not have been well-received by Broos, with the former Black Leopards man included in the squad for Bafana Bafana's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe respectively.
Mudau was one of Bafana's top performers during the AFCON earlier this year, helping the side earn bronze, and the Belgian will be banking on his experience yet again ahead of the upcoming matches.
However, it is not yet clear if the player will get the green light to feature by the SAFA medical department, as it is a FIFA rule that an injured player that has been called up for national duty still needs to report for camp to be assessed by the national team's medical staff.
That explains why Mudau reported for camp on Monday, as confirmed by a post on Bafana Bafana's official X page.
"Bafana Bafana camp in full swing on day 1, with all players present. There is one change to the initial squad announced by Coach Hugo Broos. Due to injury, Grant Kekana has been released and Given Msimango has reported for duty!" #BafanaPride #WCQualifiers, read the post.
On two occasions previously, Mokwena and Broos have butted heads over Mudau, in particular.
In October last year, the 29-year-old had to be omitted from the squad for international friendlies against Namibia and DR Congo due to injury. However, to the dismay of the Belgian, three days after the international break he featured in a CAF Champions League match against Bumamuru.
As if that was not enough, Mudau was one of four Sundowns players, including Mothobi Mvala, Themba Zwane and Ronwen Williams, who returned from the AFCON carrying injuries.
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In a post-match interview after Sundowns' 6-1 victory over NB La Masia in the Nedbank Cup Last 32, Mokwena said: "Sailor [Mudau] is out, and he'll be out for about six to eight weeks also with high-end Grade 3. We all saw when he got injured. He was still playing, which disappoints me a little bit."
Is it not ironic, then, that that which Mokwena accused Broos of doing – playing an injured player – he has just done?
Although, to be fair, the 37-year-old knows what levels his players are at and how to push them to the limits, as he works with them on a day-to-day basis as opposed to the national coach.
The big question though is, how does Mokwena expect Broos not to play an injured player when he himself has just done that?
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