Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sá has played down suggestions that injuries to his most experienced and on-form players are threatening the team’s title defence.

Pirates have reported a number of player injuries, with influential players like Siyabonga Sangweni, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Sifiso Myeni, Rooi Mahamutsa and Robyn Johannes on the injury list.

But the former Bidvest Wits coach refused to concede the league title as yet.

“We will absolutely retain the title. If that is the last thing we have to do, then we will,” De Sá said.

“Of course it will be difficult playing without all these guys, but we just have to rely on the ones that are available to do the job.

“We still have Lucky (Lekgwathi) who can always guide the young players in the center-back role. Sangweni is showing good progress and he will be back soon. For those that will have long layoffs, we just have to learn to do without them.”

The Buccaneers are trailing Kaizer Chiefs by five points on top of the league standings with a game in hand.

Having already failed to defend their other two trophies this season, it is hard to picture Pirates defending the league as they still have tough fixtures against the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Free State Stars.

The Sea Robbers also have to play all the relegation candidates in the form of Black Leopards, Chippa United, AmaZulu and Ajax Cape Town in their last matches, a task that De Sá himself is weary of.

The majority of players who are hit by injuries are well over 30 years old. Benni McCarthy and Moeneeb Josephs are two of the players who have also had niggling injuries and their ages suggest that their bodies may be starting to find it hard to adapt to the competitiveness of the PSL.

Mahamutsa and Sangweni have all celebrated their 30th birthdays, with Mbuyane celebrating his in August, but De Sá has defended his charges, insisting that they are not over the hill and that their experience is still needed to guide the young players.

“It’s true that they are not youngsters any more, but you have to look at their contribution and the experience that they add to the team,” De Sá said. It is immense.

“We also have young players like Jali, Segolela, Manyisa, and Matlaba. The fact that they are injured does not mean we should discard them. They have a huge role to play and there is still a lot that we can get out of them.

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