Orlando Pirates duo Tshepang Moremi and Masindi Nemtajela face an anxious wait as Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos prepares to announce his final 23-man World Cup squad at the end of the month. Both players are battling injuries that could derail their international ambitions. Moremi, a regular in the Bafana setup who featured at the recent AFCON tournament, has not played since suffering an injury against Kaizer Chiefs last month. While the full extent of his issue remains undisclosed, there is hope he could return before the end of the season, as Pirates have two matches remaining. Nemtajela, meanwhile, picked up his injury during Pirates’ 3-0 victory over Magesi FC. Although the 22-year-old midfielder received a national team call-up last year, he failed to make the final AFCON squad, but his strong domestic form has kept him in contention as a backup option for Broos.
If fit, both players would join a strong Pirates contingent expected to represent South Africa at the World Cup. Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Thalente Mbatha are all widely expected to make the squad after consistently strong performances throughout the season. Of the two injured Buccaneers, Moremi appears more likely to secure a place in the final squad, provided his injury is not serious. The pressure is not only international: Pirates are on the verge of winning their first league title in 14 years, which could be sealed this weekend against Durban City. The club’s injury concerns add a layer of tension to an already high-stakes period for both club and country.