Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson faces a selection headache ahead of Thursday’s clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, confirming six of his players are out for the match.
Amakhosi host Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Thursday night, with the visitors potentially poised to clinch the league title with a win.
Sundowns could even arrive as champions if second-placed Stellenbosch FC slip up against Golden Arrows on Wednesday.
Johnson, however, remains defiant. He emphasises that his side won’t make it easy for Sundowns and are determined to achieve their own goals, treating the rest of the season’s matches as must-win finals.
WHICH SIX KAIZER CHIEFS PLAYERS ARE RULED OUT OF THE SUNDOWNS CLASH?
Johnson is rallying his squad ahead of the final stretch of the season, emphasising the importance of every remaining fixture.
“I think it’s a major game for us,” he said, referring to the Sundowns match. “We’re at FNB and we’ve just come off a good win against SuperSport.”
Johnson underlined a sense of urgency within the team. “In doing this we prepared our team to go out, it’s our home game and we want to end the season off on a strong note. And whatever games we have left to play, they’re all Cup finals. That was our message – to go there and play another cup final, finishing the season.”
However, he will have to do without six of his men when he guides his troops against Masandawana.
Mozambican defender Edmilson Dove, who has featured at left centre-back is out through suspension. He has accumulated four yellow cards.
When asked about the availability of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe as a potential replacement for Dove, Johnson was also doubtful about the Zebras captain’s readiness.
“TT [Ditlhokwe] hasn’t played, he’s ready but he hasn’t played a game of 45 minutes or for an hour as yet but yeah we know Dove is suspended because of four yellow cards. We gonna see how we fix our defence structure up,” Johnson told journalists at Naturena.
He went on to confirm that the likes of Itumeleng Khune, Keagan Dolly, Tebogo Potsane and George Matlou remain sidelined, while Nkosingiphile Ngcobo is also doubtful.
“We still have Itu out, we still have Keegan out – they all came back with heavy flu,” he added.
INJURY WOES FOR CHIEFS AS DOVE SUSPENDED, KHUNE AND DOLLY OUT WITH FLU
“Potsane is still out, George is still out. Mshini started training but then he went back again a little bit, so we don’t know how far he is.
“That’s about it. But the rest of the team all look good.”
Chiefs, sitting in eighth position, host Sundowns in a 19:30 match at FNB Stadium and will be hoping for a win to keep their CAF Confederation qualification hopes.
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