Orlando Pirates fear fresh Sihle Nduli injury after comeback ends on stretcher

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he hopes Sihle Nduli has not suffered another serious injury after the midfielder was stretchered off during his first match back following a lengthy layoff.

The defending league champions were held to a 1-1 draw by AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday evening, but the result was overshadowed by Nduli’s latest setback.

Nduli had only just returned to competitive action after suffering an injury against Golden Arrows during the first round of last season. The former Stellenbosch FC player started the match, but his comeback was cut short in the 55th minute following an over-the-top tackle by Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya.

The Pirates midfielder was unable to continue and had to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher. The incident prompted an apology from AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane, who expressed regret on behalf of his player during a post-match television interview.

Ouaddou said the club would carry out further assessments before the extent of Nduli’s injury is known.

“”Yes, we had to take him off because, unfortunately, he could not continue. We wanted to give him a gift, you know. If you remember, he was injured here in Durban. So, really, it was a good surprise for him to restart here,” shared Ouaddou in the post-match press conference.”

“I hope that we didn’t lose him again.”

Nduli had undergone foot surgery as he recovered from his previous injury. His inclusion in the starting line-up for only Orlando Pirates’ second league match of the campaign underlined his importance to the team.

His return to the side had been eagerly anticipated, particularly after he missed a substantial period of action. Instead, the midfielder now faces another period of uncertainty after being forced off in painful circumstances.

The draw also meant Orlando Pirates dropped points despite creating several opportunities. They have four points from their opening two league matches.

The champions’ next fixture is against Chippa United at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.