No Soweto derby for Jali
Andile Jali will not make it back in time to play for Orlando Pirates in their derby clash with Kaizer Chiefs, the club said.
A medical bulletin from Pirates said Jali was only expected to return to full training in two weeks’ time, just days after the match at Soccer city on December 8.
Both goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs and striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane are back at training at the champions after missing the last fortnight of action.
But Bheki Nzunga will only return to training at the same time as Jali while Rudolph Bester is also out.
Jali twisted his knee when Pirates lost on post match penalties to Bloemfontein Celtic in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final at the start of the month.
De Sa said at the weekend he was concerned at the continued absence of Jali as he considered the nuggety Jali as one of the spine of his side.
Josephs is back after completing rehabilitation on a shoulder injury but after the defeat in Bloemfontein had lost his place to Senzo Meyiwa.
Mbuyane had been out with illness and is only in light training with a doctor’s appointment still to come this week, the club statement said.
