Orlando Pirates and the Betway Premiership Midfielder of the Season, Makhehlene Makhaula, has not kicked a ball since last season.
The 34-year-old suffered a serious ankle injury on 14 May during a 3-0 win over Golden Arrows.
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According to coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s update in October, Makhaula made progress but suffered lingering pain due to the severity of the type of injury.
“When a player suffers an injury of such magnitude, residual pain is a common issue,” Ouaddou told the media last month.
“In conjunction with the medical department, we have taken a prudent approach to avoid exacerbating the injury. As a result, Makhaula has resumed the recovery process and is on the cusp of rejoining training. Currently, he is running, and I am optimistic that he will reintegrate with the team shortly.
The French-Moroccan coach expressed that he had the pleasure of observing Makhaula before his tenure and praised the midfielder’s exceptional character, leadership qualities, and potential to elevate the team’s overall performance.
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Meanwhile, the Randfontein-born star has finally started full training alongside his Orlando Pirates teammates at the Rand Stadium.
Makhaula will return to compete with new signing Sihle Nduli, who has been phenomenal since his arrival from Stellenbosch FC. Born in Umzumbe, KZN, the 30-year-old has played 16 out of 18 games for Orlando Pirates this season.