Nduli turns injury setback into Pirates motivation ahead of MTN8 final
Orlando Pirates midfielder Sihle Nduli has been ruled out of Saturday’s MTN8 final, but the midfielder has refused to let another serious injury keep him away from his teammates.
The 30-year-old has been forced to watch from the sidelines after suffering a grade-three ankle ligament tear during Pirates’ clash with AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium in August.
Nduli was taken off in the first half following a heavy challenge from Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, with initial medical assessments ruling him out until December.
However, the midfielder has made encouraging progress in his rehabilitation and returned to light running at Rand Stadium this week.
Although he will not be fit in time to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final, Nduli travelled to Durban to support his teammates. He spoke to the media during the club’s promotional activities at Pavilion Mall on Friday.
“What can I say? Sustaining injuries is part of football,” Nduli said.
The setback is particularly frustrating for the former Stellenbosch FC midfielder, who suffered another serious injury in November last year during a Betway Premiership match against Golden Arrows in Durban.
That injury kept him out for several months and ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Pirates, however, went on to win the Carling Knockout and Betway Premiership, completing a domestic treble after already lifting the MTN8.
Reflecting on his latest setback, Nduli admitted that the manner of the injury made it even harder to accept.
“It was painful, especially the way I got injured. But having my teammates and everyone around me supporting me helped me understand that these things happen in football and that I needed to stay strong,” he said.
“The people close to me stood by my side and helped me remain strong during a difficult time.”
Now, with Pirates chasing a fifth consecutive MTN8 title, Nduli will have to play his part from the sidelines as his teammates take on Sundowns in Saturday’s blockbuster final in Durban.
Since joining the Buccaneers at the start of last season, the KwaZulu-Natal-born midfielder has made 19 appearances across all competitions but has already become a fan favourite.
