Mamelodi Sundowns physiotherapist Sakhi Ngwevela has revealed that striker Mauricio Affonso has returned home to Uruguay where he will continue his injury comeback amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The big forward has struggled with his fitness since joining the club at the start of the 2019-20 season. The striker made a massive impact on Downs’ Telkom Knockout victory over Maritzburg United before he suffered a ankle injury at the start of the year.

The striker looked set to miss the remainder of the season but due to the suspension of the league because of the Covid-19 outbreak, Affonso has returned home to Uruguay to continue his comeback while hoping to be fit for if and when the league resumes.

‘I last spoke to him this past Monday via WhatsApp and according to him, he’s feeling good and rehabilitation is going well,’ Ngwevela said to DailySun.

‘Owing to the Covid-19 lockdown, his rehabilitation is being done by video footage exchange. Let me add as well that he removed operation stitches on his ankle two weeks ago in Uruguay.

‘He’s walking on crutches and his feet are touching the floor. Initially, as the medical team, based on the PSL running smoothly, had projected that he would join us when we returned for pre-season training around July.

‘This thinking was influenced by the possibility of his physical conditioning being too slow for him to play towards the end of the season,’ Ngwevela added.