Orlando Pirates boosted by Mbatha and Makgopa returns for MTN8 final

Orlando Pirates have been handed a significant boost before their MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns, with Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa returning to full-team training.

The final will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 October, and the availability of the two Bafana internationals gives coach Abdeslam Ouaddou more options against the Brazilians.

Mbatha and Makgopa have been out since early August while recovering from a knee injury and patellar tendinitis respectively. Their injuries also ruled them out of Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea.

Ouaddou has used Simphiwe Selepe, Thapelo Mokobodi, Mthetheleli Mthiyane and Camren Dansin in Mbatha’s absence. Makgopa’s unavailability has provided further opportunities for Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane.

Pirates also provided an update on the rehabilitation of attackers Mohau Nkota and Andre de Jong, who are both making progress.

Nkota, who is on loan from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, is recovering from a knee injury, while De Jong is being treated for a hamstring problem. Both players have now moved on to field-based rehabilitation.

The club has not provided a definitive timescale for either player’s return to competitive action.

While Mbatha and Makgopa are back in full training, and Nkota and De Jong have advanced in their recoveries, Sihle Nduli remains further away from a return. The defensive midfielder has only recently begun running on the field.

“Sihle has started running on the field and is scheduled to undergo field-based rehabilitation for approximately two weeks before beginning his reintegration into full-team training,” said Pirates senior physiotherapist Kutlwano Molefe.