Orlando Pirates remain mum on who will be in goals when they face AmaZulu in the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
For the past three matches, Siyabonga Mpontshane has been preferred in goals since Richard Ofori picked up an injury against Usuthu in the league match last month.
Mpontshane kept two clean sheets when Pirates beat Golden Arrows 2-0 in the league and then crushed Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 in the second leg semi-final of the Wafa Wafa Cup two weeks ago to book Bucs spot in the final.
But Mpontshane caused an embarrassment to Pirates fans, when he was beaten by Yusuf Maart from his own half way line in the Soweto Derby last weekend after the former Sekhukhune United captain spotted the Pirates goalie off his line.
Painfully, that decided the outcome of the Derby as Chiefs claimed the bragging rights for the fourth time in the row.
The issue has become the thorn to the press and fans alike who are asking questions on who will be in goals in the winner-takes all match on Saturday, looking Mpontshane’s mistake to have beaten from Chiefs’ half and whether Ofori has recovered in time for the match of such big occasion.
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But Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi gave a witty remark in response when quizzed about who will start in goals, just like his coach Jose Riveiro, who also kept this away from the media midweek.
“The goalkeeping department, I wanted to skip this question,” said Ncikazi.
He then added: “We will put the best goalkeeper that the club has, based on the training we have had and based on the number of training that we have had.
“I’m sure the goalkeeper that will be in the starting line-up will make the supporters of Pirates very proud.”
When Pirates won the MTN8 in 2020/21 season also at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Ofori was in the starting line-up as they beat Bloemfontein Celtic.
Also Mpontshane previously won this trophy, beating Pirates on penalty shoot outs with Platinum Stars also in Durban in the 2013/14 season.
