Medical chief confirms SAFA to foot Gabriela Salgado recovery bill
29th July 2025
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SAFA chief medical officer Dr Thulani Ngwenya has confirmed the association will carry the costs of Gabriela Salgado's road to recovery following her return from Morocco.
Salgado suffered a horrific injury in their Women's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final defeat to Nigeria, staying down in deep anguish while her teammates were inconsolable last Tuesday, after a tackle from behind broke her leg in the 83rd minute.
Ngwenya says, while they will involve her club side JVW, SAFA will take the driving seat throughout the whole recovery and rehabilitation process.
"SAFA will be managing and, because she belongs to JVW FC and she'll be back in the country, we will also rope them in and we'll not really hand over to her club but we'll manage together," said Ngwenya.
"Because in women's football, we still try to cover quite significant management when it comes to players that got injured on national team duty."
Ngwenya also confirmed the player arrived back in the country after flying back with team manager Lauren Duncan this morning, and is now back with her family.
He says the long flight from Morocco did take a toll on her and she was in some pain upon arrival.
"Gaby has been discharged from the hospital and the operation went very well, it was successful, we discussed with the surgeon that was treating Gaby, and she travelled with the team manager, and arrived in Joburg [Monday] morning," he added.
"From here we will then be taking it further, in terms of her management, but Gaby is in good spirits, everything went well and after travelling, she's just in a bit of pain, but it's something that is expected after an op. But she's safely home and with her family."
Having broken both her left tibia and fibula (the two bones between the knee and the ankle), Ngwenya confirmed Salgado will be out of action until the new year, meaning her Hollywoodbets Super League season is definitely over.
