Former Celtic transfer target Rivaldo Coetzee hasn’t kicked a ball since failing a hoops medical.
Last August the defender was all set to sign for Celtic until a scan revealed a problem with one of his feet.
A transfer fee with Ajax Cape Town had been set up with personal terms agreed but after the results of his medical emerged the deal was off.
Celtic remained diplomatic, claiming that they would continue to monitor the defender but despite being transferred to Mamelodi Sundowns he is still waiting to make his debut at his new club.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane told kick off: “We have an issue with his foot. Recently he has been positive and bubbly.
“We’ve invested in this 21-year-old, he has played for Bafana Bafana. What an experienced 21-year-old and he fits in the game model we use at the back. He can play at the right and he can play on the left.
“He went through well coached youth programmes at Ajax. There’s not much to do, it’s just to make him understand that here at Sundowns it’s a win at all costs. That’s the challenge with Sundowns, it’s a win at all costs.
“The doctors are saying blood doesn’t flow into the area where he was injured. That makes his healing process cumbersome because when the blood is not going to where you are injured the wound will stay open. But I’m not saying he has a wound.
“We are consulting every day and people are saying they have never seen anything like this. Is it the first time in the world this has happened? Maybe it is a case study for the world to see what the matter is.”
Celtic never switched to an alternative transfer target last August but in January signed Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper.
Unless Dedryck Boyata is sold it seems unlikely that Brendan Rodgers will be bringing in another central defender during this window.