Heel injury forces Radebe to miss South Africa training

VICHY, France, June 8 (AFP)

South Africa captain Lucas Radebe missed his squads first training session at their World Cup camp here on Monday because of a bruised heel, but team officials said they were confident the imposing Leeds defender would be fit in time for Fridays World Cup opener against hosts France. Radebe was kicked three minutes from the end of Saturdays 1-1 warm-up draw against Iceland in Germany and immediately came off as a precaution. He was still limping when he arrived here with the rest of the squad by coach on Sunday and failed to appear at Mondays light two-hour work-out in front of an appreciative Vichy public. However, coach Philippe Troussier dismissed suggestions that Radebe might be out of the vital game against France in Marseille. "He just took a little kick and it needs 48 hours," said the Frenchman. "Theres no worry that hell miss the France game. Hes been playing in all the warm-up games and been exemplary in training so were giving him 48 hours rest."  Team doctor Victor Ramathesele added: "Hes bruised the bone and the tendon on his heel. Its a fresh injury and he had eight hours on a bus yesterday. Its give or take whether he trains on Wednesday but Im confident hell be ready."  The absence of Radebe would be a serious blow to the South Africans, who have been considering pushing the 29-year-old into a defensive midfield role in the absence of John Moeti and Eric Tinkler, who have both been left out of the squad because of injury. LASK Linz forward Brendan Augustine, meanwhile, trained with the rest of the players on Monday and looks to have shrugged off the groin problem that caused him to miss Sundays eight-hour trip from Germany and head off with Troussier to see a specialist in Paris. The nagging injury had caused the 26-year-old to miss 10 days training but Ramathesele confirmed on Monday: "Brendan is coming on quite nicely."  Less fortunate was third-choice goalkeeper Andre Arendse, who appeared to twist his left knee saving a shot towards the end of Mondays session. The 30-year-old Fulham player immediately stopped training and looked in some pain. Ramathesele described the injury as "a slight knock". Mondays session on a lush training pitch was a gentle workout as the Bafana Bafana (The Boys) prepare for the vital Group C match against the French at the Stade Velodrome. In front of around 1,000 local residents the squad indulged in some one-touch interplay and light jogging before working on their finishing. During a break midway through the session defender Mark Fish, standing in for the absent Radebe, introduced his team-mates to the South African ambassador in France, Barbara Masekela.

© - AFP - 1998