{
  "id": 10674319,
  "title": "Pirates provide positive injury update ahead of MTN8 final",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/pirates-provide-positive-injury-update-ahead-of-mtn8-final",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T10:38:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/local-soccer/pirates-provide-positive-injury-update-ahead-of-mtn8-final/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Orlando Pirates have received a significant boost ahead of the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns. Evidence Makgopa and Thalente Mbatha have returned to full-team training, following their respective recoveries from injuries. Mbatha has been sidelined since August 10 due to a knee injury, while Makgopa has been treating patellar tendinitis since August 5. Both players have taken part in friendly matches to regain full match fitness. The Pirates medical department has also reported positive progress from Mohau Nkota and Andre de Jong, who have both been undergoing rehabilitation for knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. Nkota and De Jong have moved to field-based rehabilitation, though no specific return dates have been announced. Additionally, Pirates senior physiotherapist Kutlwano Molefe provided an update on Sihle Nduli, who suffered an ankle injury during the Betway Premiership draw against AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium last month. Nduli has started running on the field and is set to begin field-based rehabilitation for about two weeks before rejoining the full-team training.",
  "summary": "The Bucs medical department has also issued an encouraging update on several key players undergoing rehabilitation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}