Brilliant Khuzwayo during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Orlando Pirates withdraw Khuzwayo from Carling Cup team
Those looking to see Brilliant Khuzwayo in action for Orlando Pirates have been dealt a blow, with the player withdrawn from Saturday’s Carling Black Label Cup Derby.
Brilliant Khuzwayo during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Orlando Pirates fans have been itching to see Brilliant Khuzwayo finally turn out for the club, and that has been evident in the voting for the Carling Black Label Cup starting line-up, but it seems that the Buccaneers faithful will have to wait a bit longer to see the shot-stopper.
The 29-year-old is yet to represent the senior team, despite recently completing a season as a Pirates player.
Having joined from rivals Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, the player was on track to make a first-team debut in grand fashion – starting against his former side – but has been dealt a big blow as he was withdrawn from the starting line-up.
This is despite him being the runaway leader in terms of votes among goalkeeper, earning almost twice as his nearest competitor for a starting place, Wayne Sandilands.
As KickOff reports, Khuzwayo was removed from the club’s roster for the fixture as a “medical precaution”.
It’s a medical precaution, I don’t want to talk about the substance around it. Given the medical report that we have, it’s the precaution that the club is taking,” Pirates administration officer Floyd Mbele told the publication.
Floyd Mbele
A long painful wait for Khuzwayo
The withdrawal comes just a little over a day since Khuzwayo himself declared a clean bill of health on Twitter, in a since-deleted post, indicating he was looking forward to make his first Orlando Pirates start.
Khuzwayo arrived at Pirates under an injury cloud, and had to quickly go under the knife for corrective surgery on a problematic knee.
Upon his return from injury, he made a few appearances for the club’s reserves, but failed to break into the first team’s starting line-up.
With Khuzwayo unavailable for Saturday’s clash, Wayne Sandilands is set to start for the Buccaneers, with new recruit Joris Delle taking up a spot on the bench.
Orlando Pirates CBL Cup line-up as of 24 July
Wayne Sandilands, Mthokozisi Dube, Justice Chabalala, Happy Jele, Innocent Maela, Ben Motshwari, Luvuyo Memela, Vincent Pule, Thembinkosi Lorch, Augustine Mulenga, Justin Shonga.
