CAPE TOWN – New Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo is on the mend.
Having sustained an ankle injury during pre-season – following his move from Kaizer Chiefs to the Buccaneers – Khuzwayo has yet to make his competitive debut for Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s team.
The 28-year-old shot-stopper, who was hoping to become the Pirates No 1 – and even challenge Itumeleng Khune for his Bafana Bafana spot – was ruled out for an initial three-to-four weeks by his club at the start of last month.
But the rehabilitation process has taken a bit longer. Pirates announced on their website on Thursday that Khuzwayo “continues to work on strengthening work after the successful removal of pins in his ankle.
“The strength and conditioning department has also worked on proprioception (sense of position and movement within the body), lower limb strengthening, cycling and isokinetic (exercise at a constant speed) strength, where the goalkeeper has shown a lot of improvement in his testing over the past week.”
The club added that Musa Nyatama, Thabo Qalinge and Gladwin Shitolo are “all undergoing the next stage of rehabilitation”.
Striker Augustine Mulenga (ankle strain) and defender Innocent Maela (adductor strain) have also been declared fit to play for their national teams, Zambia and South Africa respectively.
Pirates, who are fourth on the Absa Premiership log, will play their next match in the league on Saturday, September 15 against SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium (8.15pm kickoff).
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