OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 1.00pm.
INJURIES to three key Pirates’ players in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over ASEC Mimosas forced them to sit out the training session for the Vodacom African Challenge final against Esperance of Tunisia at King’s Park on Sunday.
Midfielder Thabo Mngomeni, defender Guy-Roger Nzeng, and striker Andries Sebola missed training for the match on Tuesday, but hope to be fit for the R1-million final this weekend.
Gabonese international Nzeng has a sprained ankle, Mngomeni is being treated for a foot injury, and Sebola is down with a knee problem. Team attendants said none of the injuries is serious, although all are being watched carefully.
All the players are expected to play in the final. Mngomeni inpraticular, said missing the final is not a possibility as far as he’s concerned. Striker Sibusiso Zuma, who missed the physical game Saturday in Port Elizabeth, trained on tuesday and showed no signs of pain from a nagging ankle injury. The team physiotherapist said the striker will be fine for the upcoming match.
Meanwhile Kaizer Chiefs, have called up three young players from its development academy at Rand Afrikaans University for the match for third place against ASEC Mimosas on Saturday.
Coach Paul Dolezar blamed the inability to put the ball into the net for Chiefs’ loss to Esperance of Tunisia, and hopes the three youngsters will correct his problem.