Five Kaizer Chiefs key players are at risk of suspension ahead of the Nedbank Cup Last 16 clash against Casric Stars.
Chiefs play the Motsepe Foundation Championship title contenders on Sunday evening at the FNB Stadium.
With the DStv Premiership title firmly in Mamelodi Sundowns’ grip for the sixth consecutive time, Chiefs’ only hope is winning the Nedbank Cup.
NEDBANK CUP THE ONLY POSSIBLE SILVERWARE
They already missed out on the MTN8, which Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates won, leaving Nedbank as the only possible silverware.
However, five of their key players will have to tread with caution as they risk being handed one-match bans.
New signing Christian Saile is out of Sunday’s clash after picking four yellow cards in his short spell at Chiefs.
According to the NSL Handbook on cautions, Article 54.1, “Any Player who accumulates 4 [four] cautions [i.e. “yellow cards”] for the first occasion in a Season will be suspended from participation in the next 1 [one] match to be played by his team in any Competition under the auspices of the League.”
WHO IS AT RISK OF SUSPENSION?
Burundian forward Bonfils Caleb Bimenyimana, winger Kgaogelo Sekgota, midfield workhorse Yusuf Maart, defender Siyabonga Ngezana and Siyethemba Sithebe are all sitting on three yellows.
They would miss the next game if any of them went into the notebook during the Casric tie.
Bimenyimana is currently Chiefs’ top scorer despite a dip in form since the start of the year. With injuries forcing Zwane to shuffle his backline, Ngezana has returned a rejuvenated man.
His solitary goal over the weekend earned Amakhosi maximum points against Richards Bay. Maart, who joined Chiefs from Sekhukhune United, has played more football than any other player at Naturena.
In recent games, Zwane has opted for Sithebe in the holding midfield position, emphasising the importance of players at risk of suspension.
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