Gerald Sibeko had to withdraw himself from the Bafana Bafana training session on Friday morning due to a groin injury. As a result, the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder will not be in the squad to face Equatorial Guinea in a qualifier for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

“The groin had been niggling for a while,” reacts Sibeko, “but it became worse today and I had to come off.”

The 28-year-old confirms, however, that the “mood in the South African camp is fine and the guys are working hard” in the run-up to the Equatorial Guinea match.

Sibeko is one of four Chiefs players in the Bafana squad with the others being Itumeleng Khune, Mokete Tsotetsi and Siphiwe Tshabalala. Khune and Tshabalala are likely to start against Equatorial Guinea.

Sibeko did not figure play in Bafana’s 2-0 loss against Nigeria last week, but the skilful midfielder performed well in a practice match against Swaziland three earlier, starting the second half.

The Amakhosi player had some good touches on the ball, helping Bafana to a 1-0 win and feeling happy with his first performance in the Bafana jersey. Before Sibeko came on, South Africa’s assistant-coach Pitso Mosimane calmed the Chiefs player’s nerves, saying: “Gerald, play your own game like you do at Chiefs!”