Dillon Sheppard explains Kaizer Chiefs’ six-defender line-up in Stellenbosch draw

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has explained the defensive selection that produced a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch FC, as the Glamour Boys dropped points for a third consecutive game.

The result at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening was Kaizer Chiefs’ fifth draw of the 2026/27 campaign. The stalemate also prompted questions about the decision to use Reeve Frosler in midfield alongside Mbongiseni Mthethwa.

Chiefs were without midfielders Lebohang Maboe, Adolf Mtasingwa and Siphesihle Ndlovu because of injuries. Attacker Langelihle Phili and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen also remain sidelined after suffering injuries before the recent international break.

Those absences forced the home side to alter their line-up for the meeting with Stellenbosch FC. Sheppard said the decision to select Frosler in midfield was based on both his previous experience in the position and the circumstances surrounding the squad.

“With Reeve Frosler, why would you say he’s a defender?” Sheppard said during his post-match news conference.

The assistant coach also explained why young defender Thulani Mabaso was not brought straight back into the team after returning from injury.

“The reason with the line-up, obviously with the injuries that we’ve had, young Thulani [Mabaso] has just come back from injury,” he said.

“To throw him into a game where we’ve just come back from a FIFA break, I think it would’ve been unfair on him.

“So, we had to find alternatives. In pre-season, we worked with Reeve in the midfield and like I said he’s played that position before.

“With the three weeks we had, we’ve prepared with him. He did really, really well. So, that was the reason behind him.”

Chiefs’ latest draw extended their run without a win to three matches and left Sheppard to defend the selection made in response to the team’s injury problems.