Cape Town - Free State Stars midfielder Katlego Mashego is urged his teammates to remain focused on the task at hand following the loss of several key players to injury.
Sthembiso Ngcobo, Davies Nkausu and Themba Shabalala have joined Andrea Fileccia and Moeketsi Sekola on the treatment table, leaving Ea Lla Koto with a depleted squad ahead of their clash with Jomo Cosmos in the Absa Premiership on Saturday.
"We are not having much luck with injuries at the moment," told the club's official website. "The loss of three more players on Sunday has left us seriously short in both defence and attack.
"But injuries are part of the game, so we just have to accept the situation and move on.
"We can't afford to feel sorry for ourselves. We need to stay focused and make sure we stay in the top half of the table."
Looking ahead to Saturday's Absa Premiership clash with Jomo Cosmos at Olen Park, Mashego added: "Cosmos are at the wrong end of the table, so that makes them a very dangerous opponent because they are desperate for points to move up the table.
"It's not going to be an easy game, but this match is the perfect opportunity for us to bounce back from the Sundowns defeat and come away with all three points."
Stars currently occupy 10th place in the Absa Premiership standings, having collected 22 points from 17 fixtures.