Orlando Pirates have received a blow following the sending off of Nkosinathi Sibisi during their 1-0 loss to Sekhukhune United on Wednesday.
Sibisi received his marching orders in the 85th minute following a second bookable offence, having initially been booked in the first half for a foul and then for holding an opponent who had beaten him for pace later in the game.
Sibisi will now miss two upcoming Pirates games and it is a massive blow to the Buccaneers as their next fixtures are the Soweto derbies against bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
Pirates face Chiefs in the second Soweto Derby in the PSL on Saturday May 3 before taking on the Glamour Boys again in the Nedbank Cup final seven days later, but they will now have to do without their captain and one of their most experienced players in Sibisi.
Who will replace Sibisi in Soweto Derby?
“You right he’s not there, but there’s somebody who is going to be there,” Pirates coach Jose Riveiro told SuperSport regarding Sibisi’s absence.
“We are going to play with 11, we have very good players ready to go so we are going to miss Sibisi like everybody else but somebody will be ready to fill the space, we will be ready for Saturday.”
Sibisi has been ever-present for Pirates since coming into the team following the long-term injury of Olisa Ndah in October 2024 and has played 35 matches in all competitions, scoring two goals.
In his absence, Riveiro is likely to turn to Tapelo Xoki for the two matches against Chiefs.
