Kaizer Chiefs are making their third trip to Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium in recent months, this time for the CUFA Cup clash against Marumo Gallants.
Amakhosi previously filled the stadium for the Toyota Cup against Young Africans and a league encounter against Gallants, and they’re hoping for another strong showing from their supporters on Sunday.
With the FIFA international break underway, Chiefs invited the media to their Naturena Village training ground on Thursday morning to offer a glimpse of their preparations for the upcoming match.
Here are five key observations from the visit.
NABI’S ATTENTION ON ZWANE
One of the most noteworthy moments was a conversation between Nabi and young midfielder Samkelo Zwane.
Despite starting Zwane in the season opener, Nabi has opted to bench him in the subsequent two matches. This suggests that the coach is working closely with the talented 22-year-old to unlock his full potential and believes he has a bright future ahead.
BLOM’S FITNESS IN FOCUS
Fitness and conditioning coach Majdi Safi was seen deep in conversation with Njabulo Blom. Safi has been tasked with improving Blom’s fitness levels to enable him to play a full 90 minutes.
Blom endured a challenging pre-season with his parent club, St. Louis City SC, in the MLS, where injuries limited his game time. Nabi has been cautious with Blom’s minutes since his return to Chiefs, gradually reintegrating him into the team.
LOOKING POSITIVE FOR SIRINO
Gaston Sirino, nursing an abductor muscle injury, was the first player on the training ground. When the injured players separated from the rest of the group, Sirino did not join them. It signals an imminent return from injury.
Chiefs have a busy schedule later this month, with a Carling Knockout Cup match and a league game against SuperSport United, followed by a fixture against Magesi FC. Having their talismanic attacker back fit will be a major boost for Amakhosi. The club, earlier this week, said he needed two weeks to fully recover.
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, who recently had pins removed from his finger, was on his fourth day of full training and appeared to be in high spirits. George Matlou has started running and light ball work, with a potential return to action in November.
Tebogo Potsane, who suffered an ankle injury three weeks ago, continues his rehabilitation alongside Matlou. Edmilson Dove has been spotted walking without a protective boot, indicating positive progress in his recovery.
A CHANGE OF MENTALITY
Interestingly, three players – Wandile Duba, Bruce Bvuma, and captain Yusuf Maart – all emphasised a change in mentality at the club under Nabi’s leadership. This suggests that the coach is instilling a new sense of purpose and determination within the squad.
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