Huge concern at Orlando Pirates as assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has confirmed that both Olisa Ndah and Monnapule Saleng have not trained for days for their upcoming MTN8 final against Stellenbosch on Saturday. 

Nigerian defender and vice-captain, Ndah along with current club top scorer Saleng were both out on injury when The Buccaneers faced Richards Bay in their last game at Umlazi on Saturday. 

A pivotal figure in the 26-year-old Saleng has proved to be a messiah for the Soweto club in their opening league fixtures, scoring a last-minute goal to secure a victory in the first league game at home to Chippa United. 

Indulging with the media in the last press conference leading to the final, the former Golden Arrows head coach insisted that he is not certain of the two players’ availability for the final on Saturday. 

“Unfortunately, I do not have a full report correctly pointing out. They have not trained for some days, but they are still in the medical room to pass a late fitness test so currently I am not sure because I left, there was training in the morning so I did not see training,” said Ncikazi. 

Pirates boast a host of players who have proven their quality multiple times in the Pirates team, namely potential replacements in Thapelo Xoki for Ndah and Karim Kimvuidi for Saleng. Hence, the club is not short of options despite the importance of the injured players remaining very evident in their continuous selection. 

The Pirates assistant acknowledges the danger that comes with losing these two players but insists that the club is spoilt for choice in terms of replacements.

“I do not have a full medical report, but I am praying that we are in full strength to play such a difficult side. If that doesn’t happen, I still think that we have a very capable team in their absence to be able to win, hence the team has got so many players to handle the situation in their absence,” asserted Ncikazi, who missed the MTN8 final last season against Mamelodi Sundowns due to being suspended. 

The two clubs will be facing each other for the third time in this competition but the first in a final. In their MTN8 head-to-head, the two teams hold a 50\50 success rate with Pirates winning 2-1 in the 2023/24 semi-final and Stellies registering a 1-0 victory in the second leg.