A string of injuries, coupled with a congested fixture list, may have handed at least one previously out-of-favour Orlando Pirates star a chance to stake a claim yet again for a starting berth.
Pirates are desperate to make ground on log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in what is turning out to be a two-horse race for Betway Premiership honours.
However, with the season having started late due to a change in sponsorship (with Betway replacing DStv), matches are now coming thick and fast for the teams, not least the Sea Robbers.
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The anomaly of their last fixture and the next happening seven days apart, notwithstanding.
The crammed schedule is often a recipe for disaster on the injuries front for players, the Soweto giants being no exception.
For starters, they missed Goodman Mosele for the majority of the season, having suffered an injury while on loan at Chippa United last term.
Thalente Mbatha also missed two matches due to an injury sustained at training, an absence not helped by the fact that Makhehlene Makhaula is hanging in the dangerous territory smack-bang in the middle of 30 and 40 years of age.
Therefore, asking the ex-AmaZulu FC man to complete a full 90 game in and game out would be akin to selling ice to an Eskimo.
Such that the unintended consequence of this dilemma is that the team is stretched for midfield options.
Enter Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.
The 29-year-old has featured in three of the last three matches across all competitions, a surprise but welcome turn of events for a player that played just twice from August to December last year.
He started and played the full 90 in a goalless draw against Disciples in the CAF Champions League preliminary stages in August and then featured for 14 minutes in the league against AmaZulu two months later.
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With his contract up at the end of June this year, the pint-sized star now has a chance to convince the technical team and management he is worthy of a new deal.
The recent nod from Jose Riveiro could not have come at a better time.