Moroka Swallows continue to sweat over the fitness of leading man Siyabonga Nomvete ahead of the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 20:15. Follow the match live on SS4, build-up starts at 19:00.Nomvete has been a key figure for The Birds this season, but underwent an operation on his injured wrist on Tuesday, and is in a race against time to be fit for the title-decider.
Coach Rainer Zobel has confirmed that the club will only take a decision on the fitness of Nomvete after Friday's training session in Durban, giving him asmuch tme as possible to win his place in the team.
But Zobel admits that even if the club doctors do pass 'Bhele' fit to play, the referee on the day, which has yet to be decided, may stop him from playing if the cast that he would need to wear does not meet the required safety levels.
“Nomvete left hospital on Wednesday after the operation on his wrist and he will have t prove his fitness in the two training sessions we have before the final,” Zobel said.
“But we will only make a decision on him after the second session on Friday, but I must stress that the final say will be with the referee, because he will have to wear a cast and the referee must decide whether this will be an injury danger to other players or not.
“But Nomvethe desperately wants to play, I desperately want him to play, so we will do everything to make this possible.”
Aside from the possible omission of Nomvethe, the only other absence at this stage is the German defender Thomas Cichon, with Zobel confirming that centre-back Ashraf Hendricks was back in training, but could not say if he will start.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates assistant coach Craig Rosslee says that his players are in a relaxed mood ahead of the final, despite the fact that the club have not won a knockout trophy in the last 10 years.
“The players have shown great excitement in training and the mood in the camp is exceptional,” Rosslee says. “We had a fantastic result over Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, and if I am honest, I think the players felt more pressure to get a result in that game than they do for this final against Swallows.”
Rosslee also confirmed that his side has a full bill of health, with no injury problems ahead of the big game, and adds that they have been practising penalties, though he was hopeful the game would not go that far.
“The boy have been practising penalties but I think both coaches would agree that we hope the game is not decided in that manner and that it can be wrapped up either way before spot-kicks,” Rosslee says
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