In-form Orlando Pirates players Joseph Makhanya and Phumudzo Manenzhe will walk a disciplinary plank and miss Saturday’s key Premier Soccer League game against Ajax Cape Town after accumulating three yellow cards.
Makhanya, in particular, has been in scintillating form and his suspension comes at an untimely moment.
The Buccaneers will be further hampered by the continued non-availability through injuries of Perry Mutapa and Davies Mwape.
Pirates, however, expect to have high-profile players Benedict Vilakazi and Gift Leremi available for selection in spite of the crisis that have hit their lives.
Vilakazi remains on bail facing a rape charge and Leremi has been out of action for more than a month because of what is described as ”a drinking problem”.
Ajax will be out to make amends for a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of the Buccaneers in last season’s corresponding fixture.
A sparkling 4-1 victory over Supersport United on Wednesday suggests that Gordon Igesund’s team will not be disgraced in a similar manner.
And nothing would conceivably lift the spirits of the former Pirates coach more than a victory over his old club, who currently enjoy a four-point lead in the Premier Soccer League championship race over Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax. — Sapa