Kaizer Chiefs lose Brandon Petersen and Wandile Duba to injury

Kaizer Chiefs will be without captain and first-choice goalkeeper Brandon Petersen for four to six weeks after he suffered a knee injury in training on Tuesday morning.

Attacker Wandile Duba will also miss the club’s upcoming match after being ruled out for about two weeks with a hip and groin injury.

The injuries come before Chiefs’ Betway Premiership meeting with Arrows at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday at 3pm, leaving coach Fernando da Cruz with changes to make as he attempts to maintain his side’s unbeaten start to the league campaign before the Fifa international break.

Petersen has played every minute of Chiefs’ seven matches in all competitions this season. However, his form has been inconsistent, with costly mistakes against Golden Arrows, Mamelodi Sundowns, Richards Bay and Polokwane City contributing to a defeat by Arrows and other dropped points.

Those performances had led to mounting calls for Da Cruz to leave Petersen out and give new goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner an opportunity against Arrows.

Petersen’s injury means the French coach must now change his goalkeeper regardless, with Leaner in line for a possible debut as Chiefs seek a win in their final match before the international break.

Duba’s absence creates another selection issue. The young forward has made an encouraging start to the season, scoring three goals in five league appearances.

He is expected to miss only the match against Arrows and should return after the international break, but Chiefs will need a temporary replacement for Sunday’s fixture.

Faiz Abrahams is a leading candidate to take his place after making an impression as a substitute against Siwelele. The Cape Town-born forward forced an own goal from Samukelo Xulu during that appearance and could now be handed his first start for the club.

Abrahams has shown promise in his appearances from the bench since joining Chiefs, although he understands that regular starts will be important if he is to secure a permanent move from Stellenbosch.