Cape Town - Despite several controversial incidents in the Orlando Pirates camp last week, Bucs’ Public Relations Officer, Mickey Modisane, insists veteran captain, Lucky Lekgwathi, is still part of the club.
This comes after the long-serving defender was once again omitted from the 18-man squad to face Mpumalanga Black Aces in their Telkom Knockout last 16 match at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
“I can confirm that Lucky is still a Pirates player and he is still training with the team,” Modisane told Sport24.
Modisane also revealed that the reason behind Lekgwathi's omission in the last three games is because the club wants to give him a rest.
“We are giving him a rest, that’s why he is not going to feature tonight when we play against Black Aces, but he is still part of us,” added Modisane.
The 37-year-old defender claimed last week in his Captain’s Column in the Daily Sun newspaper that sinister forces at Pirates want to destroy his career.
Lekgwathi also revealed that head coach, Roger de Sa, was told to keep him on the sidelines since the management within the club does influence the coach’s decision at the club.
It was speculated over the last week that the club chairperson's adviser, Screamer Tshabalala, together with the administrative manager, Floyd Mbele, are the ones referred to as the “sinister forces” by the double-treble winning skipper.
Mbele refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Sport24 on Tuesday, stating that the club will release an official statement soon.
“Phinda Mzala” missed the previous three games for the Happy People and is likely to face the disciplinary committee for bringing the club into disrepute.
This comes after the long-serving defender was once again omitted from the 18-man squad to face Mpumalanga Black Aces in their Telkom Knockout last 16 match at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
“I can confirm that Lucky is still a Pirates player and he is still training with the team,” Modisane told Sport24.
Modisane also revealed that the reason behind Lekgwathi's omission in the last three games is because the club wants to give him a rest.
“We are giving him a rest, that’s why he is not going to feature tonight when we play against Black Aces, but he is still part of us,” added Modisane.
The 37-year-old defender claimed last week in his Captain’s Column in the Daily Sun newspaper that sinister forces at Pirates want to destroy his career.
Lekgwathi also revealed that head coach, Roger de Sa, was told to keep him on the sidelines since the management within the club does influence the coach’s decision at the club.
It was speculated over the last week that the club chairperson's adviser, Screamer Tshabalala, together with the administrative manager, Floyd Mbele, are the ones referred to as the “sinister forces” by the double-treble winning skipper.
Mbele refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Sport24 on Tuesday, stating that the club will release an official statement soon.
“Phinda Mzala” missed the previous three games for the Happy People and is likely to face the disciplinary committee for bringing the club into disrepute.