BLUE DIAMONDS SUFFER SALGADO INJURY

The Blue Diamonds have been dealt a heavy blow following an injury to one of their key players, Gabriela Salgado.

The midfielder is expected to be out for six to eight weeks after fracturing her collarbone.

She fell awkwardly in the Hollywoodbets Super League fixture against Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies on Wednesday night (8 June 2022) where the team suffered their second defeat of the season, thanks to a last minute penalty at the Sturrock Park Wits Stadium in Johannesburg, with the team from Bloemfontein recording a 1-0 win over JVW FC.

Salgado, who has been a key feature for both club and country, had been named in Banyana Banyana’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations preliminary squad of 33-players – this after a stellar performance for the Blue Diamonds.

She scored seven times in 10 games and has been an influential figure in helping the club be among the top in the league.

JVW’s challenges started before the match when Erin Herz, who was initially in the starting line-up for the Celtic fixture, had to be replaced.

The defender suffered an allergic reaction after being stung by a bee when the team arrived at the Stadium, and shortly after was taken to Milpark Hospital for observation.

It has only been 10 rounds of fixtures but the Blue Diamonds are already without several players who are nursing an assortment of injuries.

Among them is forward Nokwazi Mnomiya who sustained a fractured ankle in the match-up against Thunderbirds Ladies just over a week ago (Wednesday, 1 June) where she scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win.

Also under medical attention in the sickbay are Jade Leask (midfielder), Talia Swartbooi (midfielder), Nomathemba Ntsibande (defender) and Alochia Lelaka (midfielder).

The upcoming international break is welcome news for the injury-stricken Blue Diamonds, as this will be a great opportunity for the players to recuperate.

Following matches this week for the remainder of the teams in the league, action will only resume for the Blue Diamonds after the AWCON Tournament, which runs from 2-23 July 2022 in Morocco.