A season of trials and tribulations for Orlando Pirates midfield dynamo Benedict Vilakazi has come to a characteristically traumatic and premature end.
The Buccaneers’ website on Friday revealed that the player — whose off-the-field activities in the courtroom drew more headlines than his performances on the pitch in recent months — fractured his ankle during the 1-0 Premier Soccer League win over Dynamos on Wednesday night and will be out of soccer for a minimum of six weeks.
Vilakazi was injured in the first half after being tackled by Dynamos’ Martin Carelse and immediately rushed to hospital where X-rays revealed the fracture to his ankle.
For Pirates, who are currently embroiled in a daunting pursuit of three major titles — the CAF Champions League, the Premier Soccer League and the Absa Cup — Vilakazi’s mishap comes as a stunning blow.
The diminutive Bafana Bafana player had only recently returned to active duty after suffering a thigh injury in the African Nations Cup tournament in Egypt earlier in the year and was expected to be a pivotal influence in the gruelling programme that lies ahead for the Buccaneers.
This is particularly true in view of the fact that Pirates will also be without Siyabonga Nomvete, Jabu Pule-Mahlangu and Collin Chabalala for Saturday afternoon’s first-leg, third-round Champions League clash at Ellis Park against AlHilal of Sudan.
The trio of recent signings were only registered by Pirates after the transfer window for early-round games in the Champions League had already closed. — Sapa