Da Cruz Shares Latest News on Chiefs’ Injured Players

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has provided an update on the club’s injured players but has not confirmed when they will return to action or which of them could be available for the CAF Confederation Cup second-leg match against Red Arrows.

Amakhosi have been without several important players in recent matches because of different injuries. Lebohang Maboe, Adolf Mtasingwa, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Langelihle Phili and Brandon Petersen have all missed at least the last two games, including the first leg of their encounter against the Zambian side.

Chiefs suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg and will need a strong performance in the return match in Durban on Friday to keep their hopes of reaching the group stage alive. The Soweto giants are aiming to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the second consecutive season.

The match is also an opportunity for Da Cruz’s team to end their six-match winless run. However, the coach has not provided a clear indication of whether any of the injured players will be ready to help the team in this important encounter.

Speaking at a media press conference on Thursday, Da Cruz explained that the injured players were making progress in their recovery. He also pointed out that Kaizer Chiefs had experienced fewer muscular injuries this season compared to previous campaigns.

“It’s a good thing to speak about the injured players because since the beginning of the season we decreased the number of muscular injuries,” said Da Cruz.

The French coach explained that the club had recorded only three muscular injuries during the current season, while the other cases were mainly caused by contact on the field.

“If we compare with other seasons we had only three muscular injuries during this season. The other injuries are contact injuries – very unlucky, if you see for example Paseka Mako in pre-season when he broke his arm,” he added.

Da Cruz believes the club is making progress in managing injuries, although he acknowledged that players will need time before they can return to full fitness.

“So we are on a good way for injured players, the players that will come back, not now but step by step, they are going to come back from injuries,” he said.

Chiefs will continue preparing for the Red Arrows encounter while assessing the condition of their squad. With qualification at stake, Da Cruz will hope the available players can deliver the performance needed to overturn the first-leg deficit.

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