Orlando Pirates defender Nkosinathi Sibisi has sunk himself into a referee’s black book, building up what has become a concern to his game this season.
Sibisi was sent off in the midweek defeat to Sekhukhune United after picking up his second yellow card of the match as the side went on to lose 1-0.
READ | Pirates fall to Sekhukhune at Orlando
That red card will now come with a two-match suspension, meaning he will miss the league games against Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows, then become available for the Nedbank Cup final.
What will be of interest and concern is that besides his first dismissal of his professional career on Wednesday after those two yellow cards, the 29-year-old now has another 11 cautions in all competitions.
Sibisi has played 36 games this season ,which means he is in the referee’s book with every third appearance that he makes.
This heavy count makes it the most that he has had in his career, which started out at Golden Arrows.
Before this season, the most yellow cards that he had received in a single season was seven during the 2019/20 campaign while still at Arrows.
He now has 22 yellow cards plus one red card throughout his time at Pirates, where he has now played 96 games.
The other regulars in the referee’s black book at Bucs have been Patrick Maswanganyi (nine yellow cards in all competitions), while Makhehlene Makhaula has eight, with Tshegofatso Mabasa on seven.
Sibisi now has a higher count than Inacio Miguel of Chiefs.
READ | Nabi reveals 'most worrying thing' at Chiefs
Miguel has seven yellow cards plus one red card in all competitions this season having played 26 matches.
At present, the Angolan-Portuguese is one yellow card away from his third suspension this season.
