SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt has confirmed Abubeker Nassir has joined on a season-long deal from Mamelodi Sundowns and is hopeful they can get him back to fitness.
The Ethiopia international star joined Sundowns from Ethiopia Coffee where he emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in African football but has endured an injury-ravaged stay at Masandawana since.
The 24-year-old has been restricted to 17 games for Sundowns, scoring four goals with the major injury in question being the challenge with former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.
“I don’t know Lorenz, I don’t know, I can’t really tell you about the inside but I think it’s a year loan deal, and obviously we will try and get him fit you know, he’s had major problems,” Hunt said about his move was confirmed on Thursday morning.
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“It was a horrendous tackle on the boy, the Pirates goalkeeper, you go to jail for those type of things. But yeah, it’s unfortunate, he’s been in and out and I think the moved a foreigner off their books but it doesn’t help us if someone is not fit to play.
“If we get that guy [that we saw on his debut against Chiefs] if we can have that guy, we know there’s a bit of pace in him, which is what we need, he can play in a front three, I think he can play in a front two.
“I don’t think he can play by himself but yeah. But he can give us options if he’s fit, but it’s no good if he’s not fit you know.”
The four-time league-winning coach is hopeful that the third extended break after facing Kaizer Chiefs this weekend will give them a chance to regroup and recover close to full strength after struggling with a depleted squad.
Key players Grant Margeman and Bradley Grobler have been out with long-term injuries while the club lost the likes of Keagan Johannes and Shandre Campbell who were regular fixtures in the starting line-up last season.
“He hasn’t played [much] in two years, not fit – hasn’t kicked a ball, so it’s really I don’t know, we will have to see, but we have more time again because the fixtures have changed again, we play on Wednesday and then not for a month again,” he said.
“It’s until the end of November again, it’s absolutely crazy but hopefully we can get someone fit, but it’s not just about the strikers, but the construction of players in certain positions that aren’t available and we can’t afford to have one ore two out.
“The squads we play against can afford to have four or five out and change and not look any different you know.”