Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic says Justice Chabalala is not in the first team picture

Orlando Pirates coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic says Justice Chabalala is still adapting to his requirements of a central defender.

Chabalala has not played for Pirates since returning from a productive six-month loan spell at Chippa United, with Micho preferring Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Happy Jele as his central defensive pairing.

Bucs have only conceded four goals in seven matches this season, having leaked a hefty 40 last term.

Sredojevic says Chabalala will have to bide his time in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge for now.



“At present, he is in the pecking order regarding the central defenders,” says Sredojevic.

“He is working hard, we asked him to play at the MDC. He is a very good player. I would say he is on the way to adapting fully to the demand of Orlando Pirates where central defenders need to do three jobs: one, to help us play, second to help us defend and third one to come out and help in set-pieces. It is purely on him.

“For every position at the club we are having a pecking order and at present he is not in the picture. But in order to give him game-time he will continue to play in the MDC.”

The former Free State Stars defender has also been linked with a loan move in the January transfer window.