THE Orlando Pirates camp resembles a hospital ward with captain Siyabonga Sangweni undergoing an operation on his Achilles tendon late yesterday.
Sangweni is expected to be out of action for almost three months, which is a major blow for Pirates ahead of next Saturday's important away trip to Tunisia.
Pirates have a date with Tunisian powerhouses Esperance in a semifinal return leg of the African Champions League after the first encounter ended in a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium.
The injury-prone Sangweni sustained the injury when Pirates eliminated Mpumalanga Black Aces 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout in Mbombela on Tuesday.
It will be another lengthy layoff for Sangweni, who only returned to action last month after a knee injury forced him out of action for six months.
Sangweni is the second Pirates player to be sidelined by an Achilles problem in less than two weeks, after Patrick Phungwayo. The club announced that Phungwayo will be out of action for three months.
Prior to that, Pirates also had another influential defender, Rooi Mahamutsa, out of action for a long time due to the same injury.
Kaizer Chiefs defender Morgan Gould has also been a victim of the same injury on two occasions in less than 10 months.
"Siya went for an operation on his Achilles tendon this afternoon, we are still waiting for an expert opinion on the time he will be out of action," said Pirates administration executive Floyd "Jomo" Mbele. "He is definitely out of the game against Esperance."
With Sifiso Myeni expected to resume training today after being replaced against Esperance due to a groin injury, a number of players are nursing an assortment of injuries.
They are William Thwala (right knee), Thandani Ntshumayelo (right foot), Mahamutsa (left foot), Mpho Makola (right knee), Oupa Manyisa (knee) and Andile Jali (ankle).
"We have a few knocks in the camp but the medical team are attending to them," said Mbele, who is busy preparing for the trip to North Africa.
''The game against Esperance is important for South African soccer [and] we need a win to keep on hoisting the South African flag in this tournament. The dream of a second star lives on. We expect a tough game because Esperance will be playing at home, but we are confident of winning. We have done it against TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Al Ahly in Egypt. It will happen again in Tunisia."
Injury woes in Bucs camp
THE Orlando Pirates camp resembles a hospital ward with captain Siyabonga Sangweni undergoing an operation on his Achilles tendon late yesterday.
Sangweni is expected to be out of action for almost three months, which is a major blow for Pirates ahead of next Saturday's important away trip to Tunisia.
Pirates have a date with Tunisian powerhouses Esperance in a semifinal return leg of the African Champions League after the first encounter ended in a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium.
The injury-prone Sangweni sustained the injury when Pirates eliminated Mpumalanga Black Aces 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout in Mbombela on Tuesday.
It will be another lengthy layoff for Sangweni, who only returned to action last month after a knee injury forced him out of action for six months.
Sangweni is the second Pirates player to be sidelined by an Achilles problem in less than two weeks, after Patrick Phungwayo. The club announced that Phungwayo will be out of action for three months.
Prior to that, Pirates also had another influential defender, Rooi Mahamutsa, out of action for a long time due to the same injury.
Kaizer Chiefs defender Morgan Gould has also been a victim of the same injury on two occasions in less than 10 months.
"Siya went for an operation on his Achilles tendon this afternoon, we are still waiting for an expert opinion on the time he will be out of action," said Pirates administration executive Floyd "Jomo" Mbele. "He is definitely out of the game against Esperance."
With Sifiso Myeni expected to resume training today after being replaced against Esperance due to a groin injury, a number of players are nursing an assortment of injuries.
They are William Thwala (right knee), Thandani Ntshumayelo (right foot), Mahamutsa (left foot), Mpho Makola (right knee), Oupa Manyisa (knee) and Andile Jali (ankle).
"We have a few knocks in the camp but the medical team are attending to them," said Mbele, who is busy preparing for the trip to North Africa.
''The game against Esperance is important for South African soccer [and] we need a win to keep on hoisting the South African flag in this tournament. The dream of a second star lives on. We expect a tough game because Esperance will be playing at home, but we are confident of winning. We have done it against TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Al Ahly in Egypt. It will happen again in Tunisia."
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