Orlando Pirates have issued an injury update on Sihle Nduli, Tapelo Xoki, and Selaelo Rasebotja ahead of the tough Betway Premiership test against TS Galaxy.
The Soweto giants are preparing for the Galaxy clash at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, aiming to bounce back after dropping vital points in the title race in their last match.
Pirates played to a 1-1 draw against Siwelele FC in front of their home fans last weekend, allowing defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, to open a gap at the top of the league table.
Masandawana won their catch-up match by defeating Marumo Gallants 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday night to take a two-point lead at the summit of the log. Sundowns have so far collected 50 points in 21 league games, while Pirates are in second position with 48 points, with the same number of matches.
With Pirates desperate to secure maximum points against the Rockets to regain top position, they have revealed that Nduli and Xoki remain sidelined, while Rasebotja is nearing a return to action after a long layoff.
Nduli sustained an injury in the first half of the current campaign, having signed with Pirates in July 2025 on a free transfer after parting ways with Stellenbosch FC.
SIHLE NDULI AND XOKI REMAIN SIDELINED AT PIRATES
The defensive midfielder has been a mainstay of Pirates’ early-season success, which saw the club win the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup titles. Before suffering an injury, Nduli made 18 appearances across all competitions for the Soweto giants. Meanwhile, Xoki and Rasebotja have been nursing long-term injuries, and they are yet to feature for Pirates this season.
“The Buccaneers have gone nine matches since their last away league defeat, which dates back to the opening month of the 2025/26 season. They have clinched 23 out of an available 30 points on their travels, with nine of those collected through consecutive wins against AmaZulu, Kaizer Chiefs and Polokwane City,” Pirates said on their website on Saturday.
“A win in their last fixture before the upcoming league hiatus will edge them back on top of the standings heading into the FIFA break. They, however, will have to navigate the trip to Mpumalanga without Tapelo Xoki and Sihle Nduli, who both remain sidelined, while midfielder Selaelo Rasebotja nears a return to action after resuming full training.”
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