Here is the latest on Kaizer Chiefs defender Rushwin Dortley, who underwent knee surgery in March after sustaining an injury.
Although the procedure was successfully performed and reports indicate a smooth recovery, he has yet to feature for the club during their current pre-season in the Netherlands.
After the operation, the left-footed defender started walking again to gradually rebuild muscle strength. He then moved to the treadmill, beginning with walking and gradually adding a few runs.
The Bafana Bafana centre-back missed the final games of the Betway Premiership, the Nedbank Cup final, and FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite still recovering, the 23-year-old is with the team in Apeldoorn, approximately 90 km from Amsterdam, and has been seen on the sidelines during all three friendly matches.
Meanwhile, Amakhosi have lost all three of their pre-season fixtures so far. They have two more games remaining on their 16-day European tour, which aims to test head coach Nasreddine Nabi’s new squad ahead of the 2025/26 season. Early results include defeats to Vitesse [2‑1], FC Utrecht [4‑0], and NEC Nijmegen [1-0].
LATEST ON RUSHWIN DORTLEY
Chiefs’ medical team were optimistic about Dortley’s return following surgery. While the club did not confirm the exact timeline for his return, there is hope he will be back on the pitch in the first half of the season, possibly around October.
During the off-season, Dortley diligently trained on his own at The Village every day. Even during a two-week visit to the Cape, his hometown, he maintained his training routine, working out every other day under the guidance of a biokineticist.
“This is my first serious injury that needed an operation,” Dortley told the club’s website. “One has to be strong mentally, as you want to play, but you can’t. It’s not easy, but I do know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Belhar-born star has credited his family and teammates for their unwavering support during his challenging recovery journey.
“I have a lot of support from my family. My girlfriend, my father, my mother, my brother… They are all playing a huge role in my road to full recovery.”
He added, “That’s how the team is,” Dortley explained. “If one is injured, we can all feel the loss of a player. We are one.”
ADEN MCCARTHY IMPRESSIVE FOR CHIEFS
Meanwhile, academy graduate Aden McCarthy’s performances have been impressive during the pre-season. The Amakhosi DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] captain has featured in all three friendly matches and has been one of the standout players.
The left-footed McCarthy lifted his hand when called up to Bafana Bafana’s CHAN qualifiers against Egypt and Malawi last season. He went on to display stellar performances at the COSAFA Cup, earning himself a plane ticket to the Netherlands.
Nabi also considers Bradley Cross a viable option at left centre back. Both Cross and McCarthy featured towards the end of last season, while Miguel Inacio and Given Msimango were sidelined due to injuries. Zitha Kwinika, whose contract was recently extended, is another option, though Msimango has yet to feature during pre-season.
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