Orlando Pirates have several players out injured. As a result, they’ll need to get creative when they select matchday squads in the coming weeks.
New-look midfield for Orlando Pirates
Pirates’ recent 1-1 draw with AmaZulu came at a high cost. Goal-scorer Tshepang Moremi was withdrawn with an injury, as was Sihle Nduli. Evidence Makgopa will miss up to two months of action after aggravating an existing knee injury. Makgopa played through the issue at the World Cup but now requires a spell on the sidelines. According to Goal, Bafana midfielder Thalente Mbatha also has a knee issue which might require surgery. After a stodgy start on Sunday against Chippa, Pirates produced a better second half to beat the Chilli Boys 3-0. The goals came from unlikely sources in the shape of Gamphani Lungu, Lebone Seema and Daniel Msendami. In the absence of Nduli and Mbatha, Cemran Dansin and Thapelo Mokobodi started at the base of midfield. They might be needed for longer than planned.
Ouaddou wants more from Maswanganyi
Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has called on creative midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi to assume more responsibility for the champions, whose next clash is on Tuesday, 25 August against Sekhukhune.
Ex-Pirates star linked with Kaizer Chiefs
Thembinkosi Lorch spent the better part of two years on the treatment table leading up to 2023. In the 2022-23 campaign, he made just 12 appearances in the league, exactly 40% of the Betway Premiership season, and made just 15 league outings in the season before that. Was Lorch ever worth the trouble? Even when fit and available, he couldn’t string consistent performances together, and his direct output of goals and assists wasn’t good either. Chiefs’ links to 33-year-old Lorch seem tenuous, at best.
