ORLANDO Pirates have received a boost ahead of their African Champions League clash in Tunisia on Saturday with the news that combative midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo will be fit to play.
In what is likely to be a fiery environment in Tunisia against Esperance, coach Roger de Sa will be looking for a bit of grit in midfield and Ntshumayelo has the potential to provide that, even if his game-time has been limited of late.
He played in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Esperance that finished 0-0 in Orlando, one of five appearances in all competitions this season.
The 23-year-old was taken out of last week’s Telkom Knockout victory at Mpumalanga Black Aces at half-time with fears of a fresh injury to his foot.
The player was in excruciating pain, leading to suggestions that he may have a fracture to a metatarsal bone in his foot. But after a number of medical tests, the club announced at the weekend that he would be fit to travel to Tunisia and would resume training with the team today.
"No damage or reoccurrence of his previous injury was picked up during the scan. The pain he felt was due to a knock he sustained, which is nothing serious," Pirates said on their website.
Ntshumayelo has so far started three games in the Champions League this season and Pirates have yet to concede in any of them.
He featured in the 0-0 home draw with AC Leopards that got their pool phase under way, scored in the 3-0 victory over Al Ahly in Egypt, and then played against Esperance in the first leg of the semifinal that finished goalless.
The Buccaneers are seeking to reach the final of the Champions League competition for the first time since they won the tournament in 1995.
Their only previous visit to the semifinals was in 2006 when they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, having also drawn the first leg 0-0 at home.
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