Eight-time Nedbank Cup winners Orlando Pirates will welcome Venda Football Academy at Orlando Stadium without important players due to injuries.
On Wednesday, Orlando Pirates’ medical department gave an update on players who won’t be part of the matchday squad on Saturday evening when they face the Motsepe Foundation Championship side. The Sea Robbers have confirmed Thabang Monare, Goodman Mosele and Bandile Shandu won’t play on the weekend.
“Experienced midfielder Thabang Monare has been one of the notable absentees from the matchday squad over the past month, with his last appearance in the starting XI coming against Mamelodi Sundowns in early February. This has been due to a high muscle strain reported in the lead-up to the recent home league fixture against Maritzburg United, which forced him to miss the subsequent Soweto Derby clashes against Kaizer Chiefs and Swallows, respectively,” Orlando Pirates stated on their official website.
“The player has made some progress in recovering from the knock and is expected to return to training next week.
“Monare is joined on the list by Goodman Mosele, who is scheduled to return to full training in the coming weeks along with Bandile Shandu.
Also Read: Bartlett: Radiopane’s future was hindered, why South Africa is failing
“The 23-year-old midfielder [Goodman Mosele] is expected to start light training by the end of the current week after picking up an ankle ligament injury, while Shandu is also scheduled to return before the end of the month after treatment on a stiff hamstring.”
Another recent exclusion to the Buccaneers squad is their captain Innocent Maela, who got a red card during the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
“Maela had sustained a left-foot contusion against Chiefs and has since resumed training,” the club has stated on their website.
However, Maela wouldn’t be available for selection even if he was injury free due to the red card he got when his team was playing against Kaizer Chiefs.
“Similarly, his defensive partner Olisa Ndah is also back at training after picking up a knock at FNB Stadium.
“Meanwhile, there is encouraging news relating to goalkeeper Richard Ofori, who has been discharged by the medical team and is back at full training after being sidelined since November last year.”
The Soweto giants are welcoming a struggling Venda Football Academy who have just won one game in their last five matches in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.