Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has explained he had to substitute Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo just 20 minutes after he had entered the pitch because “he was blind on the right eye” after a shot hit him in the face.
The Buccaneers dropped points at AmaZulu after both sides couldn’t be separated in a goalless draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Ndlondlo replaced Siphelo Baloni after 66 minutes, but was himself taken off in the 85th minute and looked distraught as he crossed the sideline.
With many wondering why the substitute was himself substituted, Riveiro explained the midfielder struggled with his eyesight.
“He go a clearance that went close to his eye and during seven to eight minutes on the pitch he could only use one of his eyes,” he told SuperSport TV.
“So he was blind in the right eye and it didn’t improve after the treatment with the doctors.
“That’s why we decided to sub him, unfortunately.”
Pirates moved to eight points from six matches, but failed to close their gap to Mamelodi Sundowns, which is now 16 points with two games in hand.
