Orlando Pirates have provided an injury update on talented defender Thabiso Sesane and midfielder Selaelo Rasebotja.
The Sea Robbers began the 2025/26 season without several key players due to injury. They have been missing Olisa Ndah and Makhehlene Makhaula, while Nkosinathi Sibisi sustained an injury in the second match of the new Betway Premiership season against Marumo Gallants.
In addition, Sesane and Rasebotja have also been missing in action under the new head coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou. The Moroccan tactician took over the coaching role in the off-season to replace Jose Riveiro after leaving before the end of the previous campaign to join Al Ahly.
Under the guidance of Ouaddou, the Soweto giants have had a challenging start to the season after suffering two successive defeats in the league against Sekhukhune United and Gallants.
Pirates are on a three-match winless run after playing to a 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first-leg of the MTN8 semi-final at Orlando Stadium this past weekend.
The Ghosts are looking to return to winning ways and collect their first maximum points of the season when they face Stellenbosch FC in the league on Wednesday night.
SESANE AND RASEBOTJA REMAIN OUT OF CONTENTION FOR THE UPCOMING MATCH
As they prepare for the tricky encounter against Stellies, Pirates revealed that Sesane and Rasebotja remain out of contention for the upcoming match.
“Pirates return to the Premiership desperate for points after dropping to 14th place in the standings following back-to-back defeats to kick off the season. They lost 1-0 at home to Sekhukhune United in their season opener before another defeat on their visit to Marumo Gallants, who overturned a one-goal deficit to register a 2-1 win at Dr Molemela Stadium last Tuesday,” reads the club statement.
“Pirates’ two other games have been in the MTN8, where they eased past Polokwane City in the quarterfinals before fighting back to secure a 1-1 draw via a late Kamogelo Sebelebele strike in their home leg of their semifinal clash against Mamelodi Sundowns last Saturday.
“The two cup fixtures are the only games where they have avoided defeat so far in the season, and they will host Stellenbosch, hoping that their encouraging performance from Saturday signals a quick turnaround in fortunes as they aim to steer themselves towards more familiar territory in the top half of the standings. That can only be achieved by registering their first league points of the season on Wednesday night.
“The Soweto Giants have the personnel capable enough to do so, as demonstrated by the likes of Sihle Nduli and Lebone Seema, who have stepped up amid injuries to cult heroes such as Nkosinathi Sibisi and Makhehleni Makhaula, while the players such as Thabiso Sesane and Selaelo Rasebotja also continue to recover after suffering knocks during the latter half of the previous campaign.”
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