Pirates coach: Khuzwayo situation is beyond my control

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Jul 29, 2019. 13:00

Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says his hands are tied in regards to goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo’s future with the club.

The shot-stopper was withdrawn from the Buccaneers’ starting XI for this past weekend’s Carling Black Label Cup, and Wayne Sandilands kept goal in a 2-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs.

Khuzwayo has been on Pirates’ books for more than a year since his high-profile move from Chiefs in 2018, but due to a long-term ankle injury he has yet to feature in a competitive senior match for the club.

“All I have to say, with the highest degree of respect to Brilliant Khuzwayo, he is a wonderful person, a top goalkeeper who has been with Kaizer Chiefs before and came to us. It is something that is beyond my authority and that’s where the medical people are coming in to give advice,” Sredojevic told the media.

The Serbian revealed that he will wait for permission from the medical team before Khuzwayo is considered for selection.

Last season, Khuzwayo featured in several MDC matches for the Buccaneers, but he was deemed unfit to start any of his team’s matches in the league.

“We couldn’t go beyond this. It means we should still wait for the clearance [from the medical team] in order to have him in full competition for a place [in the team] because we brought his football qualities and he deserves to be there,” he said.

‘Micho’ added, “It is precautionary measures from the medical team that prevented him from being in the team on Saturday.”

Pirates open their 2019/20 domestic season with a league clash against Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday 3 August.