Orlando Pirates: Buccaneers lose Memela to injury

Orlando Pirates might just have to go into the final game of their league campaign without one of their key players in midfielder, Luvuyo Memela.

The club confirmed on their website this week that the player is likely to play no further part this season, after picking up a knee injury in the 1-0 defeat away to Cape Town City on Wednesday.

“Attacking winger Luvuyo Memela – one of Pirates’ best performers of the season, suffered a injury which could potentially see him ruled out for the last match of the season against Free State Stars,” the statement on the site reads.

Memela has been a key figure in the Soweto giants’ resurgence in the second half of the 2017/18 season, as they launched a strong challenge for the league title – before Mamelodi Sundowns ended the two-horse race by beating Ajax Cape Town in the penultimate game of the campaign.

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A constant threat on the left wing, the 30-year old scored five times and provided seven assists in 22 appearances this season, most notably netting a brace against arch rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, after coming in as a substitute at halftime in the Buccaneers’ 3-1 derby victory.

This after an indifferent 2016/17 season, which saw him fail to find the net, as he also spent the latter stages of what was a horrid campaign for the club in the sidelines due to injury.

The club has also provided updates on other injured players, with right back, Mthokozisi Dube said to have recovered from the groin strain he picked up in the goalless draw against Supersport United at Mbombela Stadium early last month.

Meanwhile attacking midfielder, Thabiso Kutumela will also sit out the rest of the season, having last played in the 2-1 home victory against Maritzburg United, way back in February.

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