Cape Town - Following an Achilles tendon injury to Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni, head coach, Roger de Sa was left banking on the return of the veteran captain, Lucky Lekgwathi.
Sangweni, 31, was injured in the first half of the Telkom Knockout last 16 encounter against Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Buccaneers triumphed 3-1 in a thrilling encounter filled courtesy of Lennox Bacela's brace and a last minute strike from Oupa Manyisa.
Mabhuti Khenyeza was on target for AmaZayoni.
An injury to "Intsimbi" would open the door for Lekgwathi's return and De Sa told the Kick-off website that the 37-year-old is still part of his plans.
"He (Lekgwathi) will have to start featuring again. He is part of our plans, part of our team," De Sa said.
"He has started training hard again."
Lekgwathi has missed Pirates' last four games which led to him lashing out in his Captains Column in the Daily Sun newspaper.
He claimed that sinister forces at the club were behind his omission from the 18-man squad that lost, 3-1, on penalties to Platinum Stars in the MTN8 final in Durban two weeks ago.
The veteran defender last featured for Pirates against Ehypt’s Al Ahly in a CAF Champions League group match last month.
Sangweni, 31, was injured in the first half of the Telkom Knockout last 16 encounter against Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Buccaneers triumphed 3-1 in a thrilling encounter filled courtesy of Lennox Bacela's brace and a last minute strike from Oupa Manyisa.
Mabhuti Khenyeza was on target for AmaZayoni.
An injury to "Intsimbi" would open the door for Lekgwathi's return and De Sa told the Kick-off website that the 37-year-old is still part of his plans.
"He (Lekgwathi) will have to start featuring again. He is part of our plans, part of our team," De Sa said.
"He has started training hard again."
Lekgwathi has missed Pirates' last four games which led to him lashing out in his Captains Column in the Daily Sun newspaper.
He claimed that sinister forces at the club were behind his omission from the 18-man squad that lost, 3-1, on penalties to Platinum Stars in the MTN8 final in Durban two weeks ago.
The veteran defender last featured for Pirates against Ehypt’s Al Ahly in a CAF Champions League group match last month.