Orlando Pirates' resolute defender, Olisa Ndah, made a triumphant return from injury in the MTN8 Final.

The Nigerian international showcased his mettle in the MTN8 final, held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, as he stepped onto the pitch in the 34th minute, substituting the injured Nkosinathi Sibisi.

Ndah had not seen action for the Buccaneers since February when an unfortunate late own goal marred his last outing in the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs. However, he put the past behind him and delivered a solid performance in the final, helping Pirates secure victory over Mamelodi Sundowns with a thrilling 3-1 penalty shootout win to retain the MTN8 title.

Reflecting on his journey back to the pitch, Ndah expressed gratitude to the coaching staff and physiologists who provided unwavering support during his recovery. In the post-match conference, he remarked, "I think it has been a difficult time for me, but I want to thank the coaching staff and the physiologists who helped me through every day, and I'm happy to be back and contribute to the team winning."

Despite his previous setback in the derby, Ndah maintained his focus and determination to return stronger. He emphasized the healthy competition within the team, saying, "We have a healthy competition. I don't think we are hoping for anything bad to happen to one another. It is the second time that it happened in a row [that Nkosinathi Sibisi was substituted in the MTN8 final], so we had to fight for him and the fans also."

Dispelling rumours of a potential exit from Pirates, the 25-year-old defender clarified that he never contemplated leaving the club. He attributed his loyalty to the chairman, Irvin Khoza, and the club's support during his injury recovery.

Ndah stated emphatically, "I have never had a conversation with the chairman [Irvin Khoza] or anything. The chairman supported me a lot because they saw what I was going through, and I never had any thought of leaving. I was just focused on the club, nothing else."

With this comeback, Ndah has not only reaffirmed his commitment to the Buccaneers but also rekindled hope for the team's upcoming challenges.

Following the international break, Pirates will return to action in the DStv Premiership on 27 October, facing Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium.

Olisa Ndah makes triumphant MTN8 return for Orlando Pirates