Cape Town - With only a few days to go before Orlando Pirates kick off their 2018 Absa Premiership schedule against Baroka, the team’s momentum has been upwardly shifting since their return from the Christmas recess, with the welcoming of Highlands Park to Orlando Stadium for a training match.
The visit of the NFD log leaders gave the club’s technical team an opportunity to play around with various combinations and further assess the new additions Diamond Thopola and Phetso Maphanga in a game situation, which saw Ayanda Nkosi’s solitary goal being the difference between the sides.
The Buccaneers were back to a full complement of players having welcomed back Lyle Foster, who was on duty with the junior national team in Zambia, and Thembinkosi Lorch and Innocent Maela, who had previously been tending to minor strains.
Foster, who returns as a COSAFA U20 champion, scoring three of South Africa’s eight goals is excited to be back with the Buccaneers senior team after what has been a fast start to the youngster’s senior footballing career.
"As a striker, you love to score goals and I’m glad that I got the chance to bang a few while we were in Zambia,” said Foster as quoted by the club’s website.
"It gives you confidence as a player when you are contributing and the team is winning so I’m very happy about that.
"It was a good way to end 2017 (with the COSAFA title) but now it’s time to take that positive energy and apply myself in training so I can improve as a player and contribute to the club’s success."
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 20:15.