“All I can say to Morena is be positive’
FORMER Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits wing-back, Dillon Sheppard, was down and out after a horrific injury he suffered during his time with the Brazilians but he bounced back with a bang following his recovery and that’s why he has no doubt that Thapelo Morena will overcome his setback.
Morena is out for the rest of the season after he fractured his ankle in the Nedbank Cup last 32 tussle with SuperSport United.
Sheppard, who now coaches Wits’ Diski Challenge team, believes that positivity is key to Morena’s recovery.
“All I can say to Morena is be positive,’ Sheppard said.
“If I go back to my injury, it was all about the negative news that I might not play again or he will never play again at Sundowns but I surrounded myself with positive people,” Sheppard said after his team beat Highlands Park 1-0 at Mpumalanga Stadium to close the gap between themselves and Sundowns at the top of the reserve league standings.
Ironically, Sheppard just like Morena was also on the books of
Sundowns when he suffered a horrible injury against Free State Stars in 2007.
“He is at a great club, Sundowns. When I was there, Sundowns looked after me very well medically,” Sheppard said.
“They had to close down the hospital in Kimberley because the fans came to see me. He is at a good club that is going to look after him.”
Morena’s injury is not only a massive blow to Sundowns but also for Bafana Bafana.
Bafana coach, Molefi Ntseki, has admitted that the injury to the right-back is bad news for the national team. Sheppard remains hopeful that Morena will return to the field of play.
“There’s no reason why he can’t be back,” Sheppard said.
“He is going to be even better. These kinds of things are not nice, but they are experiences that can prepare you mentally and make you stronger.”
