Pirates sweat on Pule availability
MUSCLE STRAIN: WINGER TO FACE LATE FITNESS TEST
Tshepo Ntsoelengoe
Orlando Pirates have found it difficult to overcome SuperSport United in the past few years, and they might have to make their latest attempt without one of their in-form players, Vincent Pule, when the sides meet in an Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium tonight.
“Vincent Pule is due to undergo a late fitness test ahead of the Premiership clash against SuperSport United on Saturday,” the club confirmed on their website.
“Pule, who recently returned from national team duty where he made his debut in South Africa’s goalless draw against Libya, is carrying a slight muscle strain coming into this match over the weekend.”
The former Bidvest Wits winger hit the ground running at the Buccaneers after joining the club prior to the start of the season.
The 26-year-old had made six appearances in all competitions and scored his first goal for the club during the 2-1 victory over Black Leopards just before the Fifa break, which earned him a Bafana call-up.
A player of Pule’s calibre was certainly what the Buccaneers needed in order to end their jinx over the Pretoria side.The last time Pirates beat SuperSport was back in 2015 when they coasted to a 4-1 victory. Since then, Matsatsantsa had been dominant against Bucs, even recording a famous 6-1 mauling in November 2016.
On a positive note for the Buccaneers, Zambian striker Augustine Mulenga has returned to the team after sustaining an ankle injury in their MTN8 clash against Matsatsantsa last month.
The striker is likely to partner countryman Justin Shonga, who returned from national duty after scoring the equaliser against Namibia in an Afcon qualifying match last week. He then went on to score the winning goal against Gabon in an international friendly on Tuesday.
Pirates were without targetman Thamsanqa Gabuza who shocked fans when he took off his shirt and walked off the field without the referee’s permission after the first goal in the recent Leopards game.
The striker was shown a second yellow card for his action.