Three of Orlando Pirates’ usual center backs won’t be available for Saturday’s Nedbank Cup match at Orlando Stadium against AmaZulu.

The game starts at 18:00.

With Tapelo Xoki and Olisa Ndah hurt and Nkosinathi Sibisi suspended, the Pirates are a little vulnerable going into this important match.

Thus, in order to accommodate what is probably going to be a new center-back partnership versus AmaZulu, Jose Riveiro will need to make adjustments to his defense.

Riveiro claims Pirates have about seven central defenders, so he doesn’t seem to be too concerned about missing his three reliable center backs.

Three center-back players—Sandile Mthethwa, Innocent Maela, and Thabiso Sesane—are available for selection.

LIMPING ORLANDO PIRATES PRIOR TO AMAZULU CLASH
“No, we’re not concerned. We have roughly seven center backs in our lineup, so we’re still good. We’ll play with two, so it won’t be a problem for us,” Riveiro said to the media.

AIMING TO EMULATE STUART BAXTER, JOSE RIVEIRO
As for the Pirates, their coach Riveiro is still on track to become just the second coach in Nedbank Cup history, following in the footsteps of Stuart Baxter.

As the Buccaneers defeated Sekhukhune United in the championship game at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the Spaniard took home the trophy in his first season as manager.

However, before joining Bafana Bafana as their coach, Baxter won the Nedbank Cup twice with SuperSport United in 2016 and 2017