Fans have noticed that Thalente Mbatha hasn’t been included in recent Orlando Pirates matchday squads, leading to a lot of speculation.
So, what exactly is going on with the player?
Insider Clears the Air About Mbatha’s Availability
An insider close to the club has provided some clarity regarding Mbatha’s current situation.
According to the source, “Thalente is available and has been training with the team as usual.
He’s fully recovered from his injury and is ready for selection.”
The insider also refuted rumors circulating on social media, stating, “Whatever you’ve read about him outside of his injury is false. He missed those games against Sundowns and Baroka because of injury, and that’s the whole story.”
Mbatha Responds to Rumors on Social Media
Thalente Mbatha himself addressed the swirling rumors directly on Instagram.
He was quick to refute claims that he showed up to training intoxicated, saying, “They said I’m not training, but I just came back from training.
People can say whatever they want about me, but the truth is I’m coming from training.”
He went on to clarify, “In the past matches, I was injured, and the team has confirmed that.
Now, I’m fit and ready for tomorrow’s game against Golden Arrows.
If the coach decides to include me, I’ll be on the field.”
Mbatha’s words seem to have been a response to critics trying to bring him down, especially when he’s doing well.
Golden Arrows Game Postponed and New Challenges for Pirates
The much-anticipated clash between Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows was supposed to take place on Wednesday evening but was unfortunately postponed.
This comes as another challenge for Pirates, who are also dealing with the absence of influential midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula.
Makhaula picked up his fourth booking of the season in the last match against Baroka, meaning he’ll miss the next game against Cape Town City on Saturday, 22 February.
Kabelo Dlamini, who started alongside Makhaula against Baroka, is expected to continue in the starting lineup, but head coach Jose Riveiro will need to figure out who should partner with him in midfield.
Could Mbatha Make His Return Soon?
With the squad facing some key changes and injuries, there are questions about whether Mbatha will make his return to the lineup soon.
It remains to be seen if he’ll be called up for the upcoming games, but fans are certainly eager to see him back on the pitch.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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