Nkosinathi Sibisi injury boost for Orlando Pirates ahead of AmaZulu clash

Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi could be fit to face AmaZulu on Wednesday after the defender was withdrawn as a precaution during Saturday’s MTN8 quarter-final victory over Durban City.

The Buccaneers travel to Durban for their first midweek fixture of the new season, with AmaZulu hosting the Betway Premiership encounter at King’s Park.

The match will also be Orlando Pirates’ first away game outside Soweto this campaign and the opening fixture of back-to-back away matches this week.

Sibisi was taken off at half-time in Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win over Durban City, having reported a physical problem during the first half. Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou later confirmed that the change was forced by the injury rather than being a tactical decision.

The Pirates captain’s withdrawal affected the team’s balance, according to Ouaddou, but the side showed sufficient character to recover from going behind and secure a place in the MTN8 semi-finals.

Orlando Pirates are continuing their pursuit of a fifth consecutive MTN8 title, and early indications suggest the decision to remove Sibisi before the second half may have prevented the problem from becoming more serious.

His possible return would provide a significant boost to Ouaddou, particularly with the club facing another demanding away match only a few days after their cup tie. Pirates will nevertheless continue to monitor the defender before deciding whether he can feature against AmaZulu.

The club could also be without another key player for an extended period. Local media reports claim forward Evidence Makgopa has sustained a knee injury that may keep him out for some time.

The extent of Makgopa’s injury has not been officially confirmed by Orlando Pirates. If he is unavailable, his absence would place further pressure on Ouaddou’s squad during a busy part of the season.

Pirates will hope Sibisi’s setback is minor and that the captain can play a part as they begin their Betway Premiership campaign on the road against AmaZulu, who are also known as Usuthu.

The Durban fixture comes after Orlando Pirates negotiated a challenging MTN8 tie against Durban City. They fell behind in the quarter-final but recovered to win 2-1 and progress to the last four, keeping their bid for a fifth straight title in the competition alive.

With the league campaign now beginning away from home, Sibisi’s availability is likely to be closely watched as Pirates prepare for a demanding week of travel and fixtures.