Pirates lose Olisa Ndah to long injury - Coach Jose Riveiro Discusses Defensive Options

John Eastwood

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Last updated: 19 Oct 2024

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John Eastwood 19 Oct 2024

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Olisa Ndah suffers tibia fracture, out for 10 weeks.
Successful surgery; agent hopes for return by year-end.
Coach Riveiro trusts other defenders to step up.

Orlando Pirates have lost key defender Olisa Ndah to a broken leg (Getty Images).

Ndah Ruled Out for Around 10 weeks

Orlando Pirates’ 26-year-old Nigerian international defender Olisa Ndah has suffered a serious injury. A fracture of the Tibia has seen him undergo surgery, with a lengthy spell of sidelines expected.
Ndah Ruled Out for Around 10 weeks
Olisa Ndah’s Agent Gives Update
Pirates Coach Trusts His Other Defenders

The prognosis is that it will take approximately 10 weeks until we see the elegant centre back return to action.

Olisa Ndah’s Agent Gives Update

In an interview with Mike Morton Talks Football, Ndah’s agent Mike Makaab elaborated on the health of client.

Makaab said: “He had a fracture. He’s already had the operation, very successful and not as serious as everybody thought it might be.

“I don’t know what the official timeline is, but I’m hoping by the end of the year Olisa will be back and ready to play again.”

Pirates Coach Trusts His Other Defenders

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was confident that the other central defenders at his disposal would cover for the absence of Olisa Ndah. Whilst Sandile Mthethwa is currently out with an abdominal strain, Tapelo Xoki is nearing a return to action after knee surgery.

Jose Riveiro told the assembled media: “Olisa was in an exceptional moment of his career and it’s a pity that he cannot be part of the team for the upcoming months, but we have solutions within the squad.

“It’s not a headache in that sense, we have quality in the squad. It happened in the final already, Olisa didn’t play but we played an international player like [Nkosinathi] Sibisi.

“Tapelo [Xoki] is coming back soon, our captain Innocent Maela, we have many players who can play that role, so the headaches are always the same, to find the best starting XI to play in a squad of 39 players.”