An Orlando Pirates star has made his long awaited return for the team after almost five months since he last played a competitive PSL match.

During the second half of Bucs’ 2-2 draw with Cape Town City on Wednesday, Luvuyo Memela made his return for Milutin Sredojevic’s side, after being out since the end of last season due to injury. 

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Having initially recovered from the knee injury that delayed his start to the 2018/19 season, Memela picked up a knock to the ankle in training, which worsened his woes.

However, Sredojevic gave the midfielder a run against the Citizens after he was deemed ready for competitive football. 

“Memela is an integral part of the team, especially knowing the system of playing (and) knowing what to do in certain situations (in) helping us to enter in attack (and in) helping us to finish,” Sredojevic told the media about the 31-year-old player.

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However, the former Cape Town All Stars player still needs to improve his fitness levels in order to return to his best, according to the coach.

“He is still not in top competitive form as we could see. However, we put him inside having in mind all his experience. He also took back the trust put in him with that killer pass for Figo … Linda Mntambo, unfortunately, it didn’t work,” he said.

“But with more match minutes he will be the Memela we know because he is fully focused (and) concentrated on coming back from that injury. It was not an easy task but he is close to reaching his full potential,” concluded the coach.

Bucs prepare to face Baroka FC in their upcoming match this weekend and there is hope that history will repeat itself, as Memela scored two goals in Pirates' 3-1 win victory over Bakgaga at the Orlando Stadium in January.