Sihle Nduli is continuing his rehabilitation after suffering a severe grade-three ankle ligament tear during Orlando Pirates’ Betway Premiership clash against AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium in August.
Nduli was forced off in the first half following a heavy challenge from Thando Ngwenya, with initial medical assessments ruling him out until December.
Despite the setback, the former Stellenbosch midfielder has made encouraging progress and returned to light running at Rand Stadium this week.
He travelled to Durban on Friday to support his teammates during the club’s promotional activations at Pavilion Mall ahead of Saturday’s MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
“What can I say? Sustaining injuries is part of football,” said Nduli as quoted by Sportswire.
The midfielder knows the frustration of spending extended periods on the sidelines, having suffered another long-term injury in November last year during a league encounter against Golden Arrows in Durban.
That setback ruled him out for several months, although Pirates went on to enjoy a successful campaign, winning the MTN8, Carling Knockout and Betway Premiership.
Reflecting on his latest injury, Nduli admitted that the circumstances surrounding the incident made the experience particularly difficult.
“It was painful, especially the way I got injured. But having my teammates and everyone around me supporting me helped me understand that these things happen in football and that I needed to stay strong,” he added.
Read: Abdeslam Ouaddou warns Orlando Pirates against relying on past MTN8 success
“The people close to me stood by my side and helped me remain strong during a difficult time.”
Nduli will once again miss out on a place in the match-day squad as the Buccaneers aim to extend their dominance by winning a record fifth consecutive MTN8 title.