Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro is confident the squad can overcome the Olisa Ndah injury blow and continue their impressive form this season.
Pirates retained their MTN8 title for a third consecutive season before the recent FIFA international break, a three-peat for the Spaniard since his arrival.
And they achieved it without their influential Nigeria international defender, who has been confirmed to be ruled out for the rest of the year with a tibia fracture.
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Nkosanathi Sibisi stepped in for the towering defender who formed an impressive partnership with Thabiso Sesane this season as they beat Stellenbosch 3-1.
“We feel for them, all of them but not in a sense that it’s a headache, we feel for them because football players want to be on the football grounds,” he said.
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“Players want to play games, Olisa was in an exceptional moment of his career and it’s a pity that he cannot be part of the team for the upcoming months, but we have solutions within the squad.
“It’s not a headache in that sense, we have quality in the squad. Enough to immediately find the player who is going to replace Olisa as it happened in the final already. Olisa didn’t play but we played an international player like Sibisi.
“Tapelo [Xoki] is coming back soon, our captain Innocent Maela, we have many players who can play that role, so the headaches are always the same, to find the best starting XI to play in a squad of 39 players, so this week isn’t an exception in that sense.”
With Ndah and Sesane showing signs of building a formidable defensive partnership in the absence of injured Tapelo Xoki, Riveiro admits it’s ideal to have all options available but remains confident in his squad of players to maintain their competitive levels across all competitions.
After the MTN8 tournament, Pirates will compete in the league, CAF Champions League, Carling Knockout and Nedbank Cup.
“The fact that Olisa is not going to be around for a long time is something we cannot change,” he added ahead of their CKO tie against Magesi.
“People who are taking care of Olisa, everybody else in the same department [medical] is working as hard as possible that they are back as soon as possible. But our mind is on the players available, they are ready as shown in the final, like Sibisi.
“It talks about the readiness in the squad, conditional and mentality to immediately perform, one of the strengths in our squad. We are going to find a way to continue being a team who is not depending on one or two players.
“It doesn’t matter who is on the field, we try to play the same type of football with the same intention, with the same mentality, that is the meaning of the word team, we try to be that team who isn’t missing everybody.
“Even though we would like to have everyone available for selection, that’s not a discussion.”
Pirates host the newly Motsepe Foundation Championship title winners on Saturday afternoon at Orlando Stadium (15h00).
Check All Carling Knockout Last 16 Fixtures HERE.
