Bafana Bafana striker Bradley Grobler is hoping to inspire the national team as coach Molefi Ntseki sweats on the fitness of star man Percy Tau.
Tau trained with team on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against Mali in Port Elizabeth after picking up an injury in Club Brugge’s 4-0 win over Gent last weekend.
Bafana have already seen three players; Thami Mkhize, Brandon Petersen and Bongani Zungu withdraw from the squad due to injury.
But 31-year-old striker Grobler believes that his injuries are behind him and is keen to bring his early-season goalscoring exploits to the national team.
The SuperSport United ace is in the form of his life, netting seven goals in just 10 games this season, including the winner in Saturday’s 1-0 MTN8 Cup final win over Highlands Park.
That form could see him start in his favoured centre forward position, with Lebo Mothiba also missing a couple of training sessions this week.
CONCERN: Boss Molefi Ntseki. Picture: Muzi Ntombeal/BackpagePix.
A confident Grobler says: “It’s a position I have played for many years.
“As a footballer you’ve got to be prepared to change.”
The former Ajax Cape Town man says staying fit has been the key to his form.
He adds: “The last few years with the injuries the coaches have kind of not made me train as hard as I maybe should have.
“This season we have got a new fitness trainer in at SuperSport - and pre-season was hard.
“It may not be the reason why I’ve started well. But I certainly think that’s helped me.”