ORLANDO Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni will have to wait a little longer to get back into action because of a niggling knee injury that saw him miss the better part of the second half of last season.

Sangweni is back in Johannesburg after returning from his home in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, where he was resting.

Assistant coach Tebogo Moloi said Sangweni will start training at the end of next month or beginning of August.

"We want to give him enough chance to recover; he is undergoing rehabilitation under the watchful eye of our biokineticist, Mandy Solomons.

"The medical team will also make arrangements for him to see a physiotherapist.

"He is not going to be part of the team that will go to Lesotho for the King's Cup in Maseru on July 14, the African Champions League group stages game against AC Leopards from Congo Brazzaville at Orlando Stadium on July 21 and Carling Black Label Cup against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on July 27."

Sangweni said: "It was frustrating for me to watch my team from the stands.

"The medical team has been working on my injury and I hope to start play competitive soccer the latest by October."

Moloi said they were delighted that three other influential players, Andile Jali, Thulasizwe Mbuyane and Thabo Matlaba, were back at training after being sidelined by an assortment of injuries towards the end of last season.

"It's [a] major boost for us ahead of the King's Cup game against Lesotho giants Matlama and the Champions League clash to have the trio back in action.

"The game in Lesotho will serve as final preparations for us," Moloi said.

Despite their contracts coming to an end with Pirates this weekend, Tlou Segolela, Moeneeb Josephs and Mark Mayambela are still training with the club.

New recruit Joseph Molangoane has joined them at training this week.

Players who were on loan with other clubs, like Cyril Mashego, Maselaelo Seanego, Tshepo Liphoko and Aubrey Mngoma, are also back at Mayfair.