Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed that captain Nkosinathi Sibisi suffered an injury during his team’s 2-1 win over Durban City on Saturday afternoon at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
A late goal from Ghampani Lungu in extra-time sent the Buccaneers into the MTN8 semi-finals.
The win came at a price, with Sibisi substituted at half-time. The captain came off and was replaced by Mpho Chabatsane who played the rest of the match alongside Lebone Seema.
Speaking after the match, Ouaddou did not reveal the extent of Sibisi’s injury.
“Look, first of all we know that MTN8 cup matches are all the time difficult and I think it’s the magic of this competition, nobody will come here in Orlando Pirates and to give you the game,” the Orlando Pirates coach told SABC Sport after the match.
“So, of course we started the game like what we want, putting the tempo, having control, I think we could’ve killed the game earlier before, but we missed some important big chances and I had to make some changes at halftime because Sibisi was injured.”
Orlando Pirates into MTN8 semis but Sibisi injured
The Buccaneers dominated against Durban City especially after Brooklyn Poggenpoel was sent off in the first half. Despite creating all the chances, Orlandi Pirates only scored their second deep into extra-time.
“I think it created some imbalance in that area; we conceded a goal. But what I liked it’s the braveness, character, personality of my team.
“We believed until the end and went until the into extra-time. But I think we could’ve killed the game before because Pirates really dominated that game,” Ouaddou said
Orlando Pirates march into the semis and are favourites to win the trophy for the fifth successive time.
