Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has confirmed that apart from Tapelo Xoki and Sihle Nduli, the club has a clean bill of health ahead of the Soweto Derby.
The Buccaneers enter the game, chasing the Betway Premiership title, having picked up six wins and two draws in their last eight league games.
Chiefs, meanwhile, are trying to cement third place, but could close in on their rivals after five wins and a draw in their last six outings.
Ncikazi confirmed no new faces have entered the treatment room after Pirates’ 3-0 win over AmaZulu last weekend.
“The standard injuries that we still have – Xoki is still doing rehab, Sihle Nduli is also doing his rehab,” he said during Pirates’ media day.
“I haven’t seen anybody [new] also in the doctor’s bed. I think we will have a clean bill of health except for the two main injuries that are known.”
‘The Biggest Game In Africa’
Ncikazi also admitted that it’s likely going to be a tightly contested match, with both teams entering the derby on a good run of form.
“Preparations are going well, preparing for a very big match, the biggest in the continent,” he continued.
“The beauty of this match it’s going to be highly competitive, based on the fact that if you were to take a sample of the last seven matches, five wins for both teams, 29 goals [sic. 19] scored by our team, 12 by the opponents.
“They have conceded only three goals, we have conceded four. From that point it already indicates, how narrow the match will be – highly competitive match, we are preparing to win.
“Knowing who we are, knowing the magnitude of the game and knowing the importance of the points that we must get in the match.”
The upcoming Soweto Derby kicks off at 15:00 on Sunday, with FNB Stadium already being sold out – Pirates won the reverse fixture 3-0.
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