Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates will shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 when they travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Marumo Gallants. Photo: Twitter @GOALcomSA

Orlando Pirates: Ncikazi explains Oliseh Ndah’s strange absence

Oliseh Ndah is, without doubt, one of Orlando Pirates’ favourites for the Player of the Season gong. So why was he absent last Sunday?

Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates will shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 when they travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Marumo Gallants. Photo: Twitter @GOALcomSA

It was odd to watch Orlando Pirates without Oliseh Ndah against Al-Ittihad at the Orlando Stadium last weekend. Mandla Ncikazi has since explained why.

WHY NDAH WAS MISSING

We can’t say the Nigerian star central defender was rested for what was a dead rubber game. The club’s co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids clearly selected their best and starting team.

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But where was Ndah and why was he not picked? According to Ncikazi, the 24-year-old simply fell sick on the morning of the game.

The starting line-up is informed by a number of things [such as] the availability of players, suspensions, and players from injuries,” the former Golden Arrows gaffer said via DiskiTimes.

“This was not the line-up we wanted to play with at the back.

“Ndah got sick in the morning and as coaches we have to make decisions. I’m just happy that we were more solid at the back in his absence,” he concluded.

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BEST XI OF ORLANDO PIRATES PLAYERS WHO LEFT SINCE 2010

Bucs supporters have learned to cross their fingers come the end of every season. The club consistently parts ways with some rather quality players.

Look everywhere around the world, clubs do everything in their power to keep generational talent in their books beyond their playing years.

Locally in the PSL, just look at Doctor KhumaloDonald Khuse, and Itumeleng Khune at Kaizer Chiefs, as well as Surprise Moriri and Themba Zwane at Mamelodi Sundowns.

But this is not exactly the case at Pirates.

Teko Modise left in 2011, Daine Klate departed in 2015, and left for Moeneeb Josephs in 2015.

Though Jali, and someone like Kermit Erasmus, left for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to play in Europe, both players bizarrely returned to Mzansi to join other clubs rather than Bucs. Read the full story here.

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