Orlando Pirates pump the brakes on Pule return

Orlando Pirates’ co-coach Mandla Ncikazi says the club will be cautious regarding the return of Vincent Pule.

Pule penned a letter to the fans this week intimating that he was ready to return to action for the club.

Vincent Pule unlikely to feature in Caf action

However, Ncikazi, is not prepared to rush the winger back into action despite Pirates needing to kick on to finish the season well.

Orlando Pirates face Simba on Sunday evening but Ncikazi said that it would be too soon to throw Pule in.

While the player is now close to full fitness, he hasn’t played since October last year and Ncikazi feels he might be off the pace.

“Pule is making progress, but I think it will be premature to play him in such a high tempo game while we will really want to win having our best players. I don’t think he is in a position when he hasn’t played not even a single full training match. He is in that position where we must make a tough choice but maybe we chose to go for safety,” said Ncikazi.

Soccer Laduma

Attacking options

To make matters complicated, there is no ready position for Pule to return to with Deon Hotto filling the wide role with aplomb.

Orlando Pirates have struggled in the final third but it is unlikely that Pule offers an immediate solution as their problem is a lack of a proven goalscorer in the centre forward role.

Kwame Peprah has done reasonably well but the goals still aren’t coming for him even if his energy is great.

Siphesihle Ndlovu hasn’t nailed down his spot but continues to get opportunities in the hopes he will come good.