Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has explained why Thembinkosi Lorch, Happy Jele and Tshegofatso Mabasa were not in the matchday squad to face Cape Town City.
The Buccaneers collected their 11th draw of the campaign after holding the visitors to a goalless draw on Wednesday.
However, Lorch and Jele were notable absentees, with Ncikazi explaining that the winger picked up a late injury and is also doubtful for Saturday’s Soweto Derby, while Jele was just rested.
“Lorch had an injury yesterday. He was in the team, in the last preparation he had a muscle strain, which is why we couldn’t take him along,” he said after the game.
“We hope from our medical team to get the feedback whether he’ll be ready [for the derby] or not ready but currently we’re not sure.
“With Happy, it’s just management. With Happy contributing so well as a leader in the team but again we still have to manage him, he’s played so many games.
“He played the whole match when we played in Nelspruit on the weekend. So it’s just management with Happy.”
Ncikazi also highlighted that Mabasa’s absence was due to the high competition among Pirates strikers.
“Tshegofatso Mabasa is okay, it’s just the competition. Pirates has six to seven good strikers. He’s training well and I hope he’s getting his opportunity soon,” he added.
The draw saw Pirates equal Kaizer Chiefs points tally of 32 ahead of Saturday’s Soweto Derby but the Buccaneers have played three games more and Amakhosi have the better goal difference.
