The Buccaneers have been without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Richard Ofori since 14 October when the Ghana international aggravated a muscle injury in the 1-1 DStv Premiership draw against AmaZulu, with Siyabonga Mpontshane deputising with aplomb in his absence.
Ofori has since returned to training and was named on the bench in last weekend's Soweto derby defeat to Kaizer Chiefs and could be in contention to return when Pirates take on Usuthu in the MTN8 final on Saturday."I have four 'keepers in the squad, Kopano , Sipho , Siyabonga and Richard who are all going to train this week as usual and at the end of the week we have to make a decision about which one is the right one to play this game," head coach Jose Riveiro revealed.
Meanwhile, Bucs captain Innocent Maela is also facing a race against time to be fit for the clash after being forced off through injury during the first half of the derby against Chiefs. "I think it's true, I mean people saw that I couldn't finish the match because of a niggle that I had but we are still busy with the team doctors and the physios so it's still too early to tell," Maela told the media."I feel good, I feel confident and we will see as the week goes by, but nothing confirmed as yet."