Nkota & Co. to face Sundowns in MTN8 final? Pirates respond

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has hinted the club might welcome back some injured stars, including Mohau Nkota, during the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The defending champions host Masandawana on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Victory for the Soweto giants will see them win their fifth crown in a row – in the tournament. Under coach Jose Riveiro, Bucs won it three consecutive times while Ouaddou has managed to go all the way once.

In recent weeks, the Sea Robbers have been forced to do without their signing Nkota, alongside Thalente Mbatha, Sihle Nduli, as well as striker Evidence Makgopa.

Nkota made a return to the club at the beginning of the season, albeit on loan from the Saudi Pro League team Al-Ettifaq.

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The former Morocco and Fulham FC central defender has remained coy about the availability of his injured stars

“Look, what I can tell you is that they are in good shape, they are coming, and we are doing everything with the medical department and the performance department for them to be available for the next games,” Ouaddou said during a briefing with the media.

“For now, I cannot tell you more about these players, but it’s very good news for us to see them on the field training with us. I cannot go further [about their availability on Saturday]; maybe you’ll see them in the next games,” he concluded.

Apart from the MTN8, both Sundowns and Pirates are expected to battle for the Premier Soccer League for the fifth season in a row. The last four campaigns saw Bucs finish second for three consecutive campaigns.