JOHANNESBURG - Orlando Pirates defender Nkosinathi Mthiyane is uncertain about his future at the club after being sidelined and failing to appear in a single match for the senior team so far this season.
Mthiyane joined Pirates last season from Chippa United. He struggled for game time under Muhsin Ertugral and Augusto Palacios before joining Lamontville Golden Arrows on loan, where he commanded a regular place, operating at left back position.
At Pirates he is competing with the likes of Marc van Heerden and the in-form Innocent Maele.
Mthiyane played the whole 90 minutes for Pirates’ MultiChoice Diski Challenge side this past weekend at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi. Pirates played to a 1-1 stalemate with their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
Speaking with the media after the game Mthiyane expressed the difficulty of sitting on the bench.
“There is competition but there’s nothing that is surprising me about that. All of my competitors have been given a chance. So I can say the competition is tough," he said.
"They are both playing very well but I will also like to get an opportunity to showcase what I can offer. Then I can be in position to say that the competition is tough or not. If I’m not playing then I can say that I have competition.”
Asked if he will ask for the loan move in January, Mthiyane said: “I can’t say much about that at the moment. My future is in my bosses’ hands. I can’t discuss that now.
“It is a difficult situation but I have to deal with it. Whatever I’m facing I have to deal with it as it is. It is not nice to be in my situation. It not right as a player to be uncertain about your future. At the moment no one has said anything to me.”
Mthiyane has been around for a while now. He began his career with Thanda Royal Zulu back in 2012, before moving to AmaZulu, and then on to Chippa.
“The coach (Milutini Sredojevic) hasn’t said anything to me. I’m injury free and fit. This season I can’t complain about injuries. Playing in the MDC is better than nothing. If you playing regularly your fitness levels always on point. I really appreciate the chance I’m getting from playing in the MDC,” Mthiyane explained.