Nduli Out 4 Months After Ankle Ligament Tear
Orlando Pirates have confirmed that midfielder Sihle Nduli will be sidelined for four months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury during Wednesday’s Betway Premiership clash against AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium.
The former Stellenbosch FC midfielder was forced off in the first half following a heavy, mistimed challenge from AmaZulu’s Thando Ngwenya. Medical evaluations confirmed structural damage, ruling the off-season signing out of action until at least December.
The injury represents a significant setback for both Nduli and Buccaneers head coach José Riveiro, as the energetic midfielder had quickly established himself in Pirates’ central midfield rotation since arriving at the start of the 2026/27 campaign.
The Buccaneers will, however, head into the encounter without midfielder Sihle Nduli, who sustained a significant ankle injury during the clash against Usuthu.
The 30-year-old was forced off during the match following a heavy challenge and, after further assessment by the Club’s medical team, has been ruled out for an extended period.
Nduli is expected to be sidelined for approximately four months after suffering a Grade 3 ligament tear, effectively ruling him out of action for the remainder of the year.
His absence represents a setback for the Buccaneers, with the midfielder having recently returned from a lengthy layoff from a previous injury.
Pirates will also be without Andre de Jong for this afternoon’s encounter. The midfielder has been ruled out after picking up a quad strain and will not be considered for selection against the Chilli Boys.
Meanwhile, the Bucs medical team have shared some light regarding the availability of Tshepang Moremi.
The Bafana Bafana international picked up a knock during the midweek encounter and will undergo a late fitness assessment before a final decision is made regarding his availability.
With a quick turnaround between fixtures, the focus now shifts firmly towards Chippa United as Pirates look to return to winning ways this afternoon.
