Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah could not hide his joy after making a long-awaited return from injury as the Soweto giants continued their winning tradition by lifting another trophy.
Ndah marked his comeback as Orlando Pirates defeated the Carling All Stars 2–0 in the Carling Cup clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The Nigerian centre-back had been sidelined since September after sustaining an injury against Polokwane City, making the Durban encounter his first competitive appearance in several months.
It was also Ndah’s first outing under new head coach Abdelsam Ouaddou, who replaced popular former mentor Jose Riveiro during the off-season.
Although the Carling Cup is officially classified as a friendly match – with the All Stars team selected by fans – the victory still carried significant meaning for Ndah and the Buccaneers, who claimed their third trophy of the season.
Pirates have now added the Carling Cup to the Carling Knockout and MTN8, underlining their dominance in domestic competitions.
“We keep making history all the time,” Ndah said after the match.
“We tend to win everything, and that is the most important thing right now. It’s time to enjoy ourselves and celebrate.”
Defensive Boost and Debut Delight for Pirates
Ndah’s return was complemented by the comeback of fellow defender Thabiso Sesane, who made his first appearance since rupturing his Achilles tendon against Sekhukhune United in February.
Pirates supporters were further treated to an exciting debut from young forward Sifiso Luthuli, who announced himself in style by scoring the opening goal of the match.
Luthuli latched onto a sublime pass from Deon Hotto before delicately chipping the ball over goalkeeper Naphtali Mokoena to give Pirates the lead in Durban.
The victory was sealed in the 80th minute with a moment of individual brilliance, as Boitumelo Radiopane burst through midfield and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Mokoena stranded.
“For my debut and to score a goal, it’s a blessing to me,” said Luthuli.
“I just have to thank the Lord. God is good. As a striker, everything that happened is by God’s grace.”
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!