Kaizer Chiefs suffer injury blow as Da Cruz confirms Chislett and Silva setbacks

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz says Ethan Chislett and Flavio Da Silva have suffered injury setbacks, adding to the pressure on his side after their shock 1-0 defeat by Lamontville Golden Arrows in the MTN8.

The result at FNB Stadium ended Chiefs’ involvement in the competition at the first hurdle after Khulekani Shezi scored the only goal of the match in the second half.

Chiefs had been forced to make changes before kick-off after injuries disrupted Da Cruz’s plans. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo was handed a starting role in attack, while young players Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman were also included in a reshaped line-up.

Da Cruz also used the cup tie to give some of his new arrivals valuable playing time. Highly-rated winger Langelihle Phili came on from the bench to make his official debut for the club.

Several players who had featured in Chiefs’ opening fixture, a victory against Kruger United, were left out of the squad entirely for the meeting with Abafana Besthende.

However, Da Cruz said the absence of Asanele Velebayi and Pule Mmodi was not caused by injury. Instead, he described their omission as a tactical decision, with competition for places becoming a factor during a demanding run of fixtures.

Chislett and Da Silva, by contrast, were unavailable because of physical problems. Da Silva was hurt during training on Saturday, one day before the match, while Chislett was also being managed cautiously.

“First thing, Silva got hurt yesterday (Saturday) at training, matchday minus one. So, we have three games in six days, and we prefer to be careful with him – the same thing for Chislett also,” Da Cruz said during his post-match press conference.

The Chiefs manager stressed that squad rotation would be essential as the team prepares for three matches in a six-day period.

“For players like [Asanele] Velebayi and Pule Mmodi, it’s our choice [to not include them in Sunday’s game], but also we have three games in six days. So, we will need the whole squad for these three games because it will be a tough week for us.

“We also missed other players who are injured. They are in rehabilitation and periodisation, but it’s interesting for the players who are available at the moment, and they would come back step by step.”

The early MTN8 exit leaves the Soweto club facing questions over its squad depth, while the lack of attacking sharpness against Lamontville Golden Arrows will also be scrutinised.

Chiefs have little time to reflect, with their next opportunity to respond coming in the Betway Premiership. They face Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

That fixture begins a demanding six-day schedule for Da Cruz’s squad. The sequence will test the players’ physical condition and the manager’s ability to rotate his team before it concludes with a major match against champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the weekend.

The injury concerns involving Chislett and Da Silva therefore come at an especially difficult moment for Chiefs, who must balance the need to recover from their cup disappointment with the demands of a congested league programme.