Injury blow for Orlando Pirates defender Bongani Sam

Ahead of the eagerly anticipated Absa Premiership game against Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates have suffered a big blow with the news that defender Bongani Sam will not feature at Dobsonville Stadium tonight.

“Sam has sustained a right hamstring strain to his bicep fermoris and has started with his rehab,” first-team physio Kutlwano Molefe told the club’s website.

“We expect to see injuries of this nature in the remaining matches. Players call it feeling a bit rusty, but from a medical point of view it’s more a case of reaction times not being at the optimum levels that they are used to.”

“The frequency of matches and the less time for recovery are all elements that we are facing, and this will most likely exacerbate the problem.

“This is the new normal that all teams will be dealing with until the end of the season. The teams that push the envelope and look for creative ways to preserve the players’ legs will be the ones who will benefit most in this period.”