Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has named six players ruled out of the weekend clash against Chippa United.
Amakhosi welcome the Chilli Boys at the FNB Stadium for a Nedbank Cup Last 32 match. Kick off is 18h00.
The Soweto giants have not won a trophy in almost a decade and will be hoping to push for the Nedbank Cup trophy.
However, Nabi will have to do without several key players for the tie. Chiefs are already without the services of captain Yusuf Maart, who is serving suspension after picking four yellow cards.
WHICH SIX CHIEFS PLAYERS ARE OUT OF NEDBANK CUP TIE
“Unfortunately, our captain [Maart] is suspended,” Nasreddine Nabi told the media during the Nedbank Cup press conference in Sandton on Thursday.
In the absence of Maart, Nabi looks likely to look to Samkelo Zwane. And that is because Sibongiseni Mthethwa is out of the match due to a muscle injury that kept him out of the Stellenbosch FC encounter.
“Ox [Sibongiseni Mthethwa] is still injured and won’t be part of the game,” he added.
He revealed that George Matlou “has been training” alongside Dillan Solomons and Edmilson Dove. While Matlou could be available, Nabi said Solomons and Dove need to play a few friendly matches.
“Solomons and Dove need time to play friendly matches and get themselves fit.”
Wandile Duba and Ashley Du Preez are still out due to injury. But Nabi has Tashreeq Morris upfront with Ranga Chivaviro as back-up.
Meanwhile, Nabi said they were eager to “go as far as they can” in the Nedbank Cup. He is, however, wary of the threat posed by their opponent. “It’s a cup game which our club Chiefs has its purpose about the cup to go as far as we can. Even until the end, it’s always a difficult game.”
The two clubs met in the first round of the Betway Premiership and Amakhosi emerged victorious courtesy of a Mduduzi Shabalala solitary goal. The Tunisian mentor, however, warns that they “can’t rely on the last result we got against Chippa”.
“[It] was a difficult game, and the individual brilliance of Shabalala helped us. We expect a very difficult game. We are prepared for it. We’ve done our due diligence and have worked through everything. We hope our performance will be very good against a difficult Chippa team.”
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