Orlando Pirates will be without yet another key defender in their upcoming match this weekend due to suspension. On Friday, the Buccaneers secured one of their biggest victories in recent times with a 4-1 win over Swallows FC at Dobsonville Stadium, however, the team was without the influential captain Innocent Maela and fellow defender Nkosinathi Sibisi due to suspension.
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Swallows 1️⃣-4️⃣ Pirates
Shwabule ⚽️
Saleng ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Dzvukamanja ⚽️DStvPrem UNPLAYABLE pic.twitter.com/JpMn4aiFi0— UNPLAYABLE (@UnplayableZA) March 3, 2023
In their absence, Jose Riveiro and his technical team decided to include young Ndumiso Ngiba from Pirates’ DStv Diski Challenge team in the matchday squad, however, the 20-year-old centre-back was an unused substitute as Sandile Mthethwa played alongside Tapelo Xoki.
With the team now preparing for their Nedbank Cup Last 16 match against Venda Football Academy, Xoki will miss the action after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season against Swallows. But the team will have Sibisi back for Saturday’s cup match, although Maela will still be unavailable for the second of his two-match suspension for the red card he picked up against Kaizer Chiefs.
