Orlando Pirates Receive Timely Boost Ahead of MTN8 Final Against Mamelodi Sundowns

• Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha could return to action in Saturday's MTN8 final after being sidelined since August
• Mbatha played a key role as Pirates won the treble last season, with the team remaining unbeaten in matches he featured in
• The Bucs head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou must decide whether to hand Mbatha a starting berth after his injury absence

Orlando Pirates may have a significant boost ahead of Saturday's MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns, with indications that midfielder Thalente Mbatha could be available for selection.

The 26-year-old has been out of action since August and is working to regain full match fitness before the high-stakes cup decider.

Mbatha's Return Could Strengthen Pirates

Mbatha was a pivotal figure for the Buccaneers during their treble-winning campaign last season, with the team unbeaten in every match he featured in. His potential return has attracted attention, though Mbatha himself played down the significance of those statistics.

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"I've seen the pictures and everything, but as I said, for me, my job is to do my job with the Pirates. So, I don't go around looking for that if the team doesn't lose or anything, because football is about three dimensions. You win, you draw, you lose. So for me, it's a matter of doing my job, and if the team continues winning, that means I'm part of the person that's doing my job," he said.

During his time on the sidelines, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou turned to Thapelo Mokobodi and Mthetheli Mthiyane, both of whom signed for Pirates this season, to fill the void in midfield.

Mbatha Opens Up on Injury Struggle

The Bafana Bafana midfielder did not shy away from describing how testing his rehabilitation period has been.

"It's a difficult situation, and it's a difficult journey, but I believe that the team and the support that I got from the medical team really helped me," Mbatha said.

He also spoke to the psychological toll that comes with returning from injury. "Coming from an injury is something that's not really easy; sometimes you fear putting weight on the leg because it's a difficult situation, and it tells on you mentally. So, I believe the preparation games help us a lot in getting that match fitness," he added.

Whether Ouaddou opts to hand Mbatha a starting role or bring him off the bench remains to be seen, but his availability ahead of the final will be welcome news for Pirates supporters.

Source: Briefly News