Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena has bemoaned the absence of midfielder Musa Nyatama , who will miss their Nedbank Cup Round of 32 clash with Ajax Cape Town through suspension.
Nyatama picked up his fourth yellow card of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) season in the 2-1 victory over Maritzburg United, and joins a long list of players which includes the likes of Mpho Makola and Abbubaker Mobara who will miss the clash on Saturday.
The 30-year-old midfielder has been an integral part of the Sea Robbers' resurgence this season as they currently find themselves second on the table, five points adrift of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
But following Pirates recent 3-0 loss at the hands of the Urban Warriors, Nyatama’s absence will surely be felt, according to the Pirates assistant coach.
“Losing a player of Musa’s quality is a big blow,” Mokwena told Pirates’ official website.
“We knew about him being on the brink of suspension because he was sitting on three yellow cards. Having said that, we have been working hard with the group to incorporate the different players into our game model so that there isn’t too much change when we lose one or two players to injury or suspension," he said.
However, Mokwena is confident that the club will be able fill the void left by the former Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder, as they have adequate depth to call upon.
“The club is rich with talented players and while we will miss Musa, we are also prepared as we have depth and quality in the midfield. There are adequate replacements that are capable of filling the void that Musa will leave. We have a plan, and we have an ace up our sleeve. This is the art of war,” he concluded.
