Cape Town City’s new Angolan signing Carlinhos has undergone surgery after suffering a knee injury and will have to wait months before he gets to debut for the Betway Premiership club.
The 29-year-old international midfielder was an expensive off-season signing from Petro Atletico but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training earlier this month and has since undergone surgery.
It will take up to nine months – almost the entire season – before he is fit to play.
ℹ️ Carlinhos has suffered a knee injury, which will see him miss the first half of the season.
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) August 16, 2024
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Carlinhos 👊#iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/SvWh3a5NF0
Coach Eric Tinkler had high expectations for Carlinhos this season, having pestered club chairman John Comitis for several years to try and buy him.
The injury occured before City’s opening match of the season – a 1-0 away victory in the MTN8 against Sekhukhune United in Polokwane.
Last season, Carlinhos helped Petro Atetico win the Girabola League plus finish the group stage of the African Champions League in last place without conceding a goal.
Petro were the first team in the 27-year-old history of the Champions League to go through the group phase without letting in a goal.