Kaizer Chiefs explain Da Silva and Chislett absences after MTN8 exit

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz said Flavio Da Silva and Ethan Chislett were left out of Saturday’s MTN8 quarter-final because of injury concerns and a demanding run of fixtures.

The Glamour Boys suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat by Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium, ending their involvement in the competition. Da Silva and Chislett were both notable absentees as Kaizer Chiefs were eliminated from the Wafa Wafa tournament.

Da Silva had scored in Kaizer Chiefs’ 3-1 Betway Premiership victory over Kruger United a week earlier, while Chislett had also featured as an attacking midfielder before missing the meeting with Golden Arrows.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Da Cruz explained that Da Silva had suffered an injury during training on the eve of the match. The French coach said the club had decided not to risk either player with three games scheduled within six days.

“First thing, Silva got hurt yesterday at the training, so we were left minus one,” he said, as per his translator.

“We have three games in six days, so we prefer to be careful with him.

“The same thing for Chislett also.”

The decision meant Kaizer Chiefs went into the MTN8 quarter-final without two players who had been involved in their recent campaign. Da Cruz made clear that the absences were linked to player welfare rather than a tactical decision, with the club facing a congested period of football.

Da Silva’s goal in the win over Kruger United had come only a week before the defeat by Golden Arrows, but the forward was not considered ready to take the risk of playing after being hurt in training. Chislett was also held back as Kaizer Chiefs sought to manage the demands on their squad.

Despite those precautions, Golden Arrows secured a narrow victory at FNB Stadium, sending the hosts out of the MTN8 and leaving Kaizer Chiefs to focus on their upcoming fixtures.

The result was a disappointing outcome for Amakhosi, who had entered the match with the aim of progressing in the knockout competition. Instead, a single goal was enough for Golden Arrows to claim a place in the next stage.

Da Cruz’s explanation came after the match, as attention turned both to the defeat and to the condition of the two absent players. With three games to play in six days, the Kaizer Chiefs head coach opted for caution over selecting Da Silva and Chislett for the quarter-final.