Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef provided an injury update on the club’s two defenders, Rushwin Dortley and Given Msimango, noting their return will create healthy competition within the squad.
The duo’s presence will bolster the Soweto giants’ defensive options, giving head coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical team more tactical flexibility.
Dortley underwent knee surgery earlier this year after sustaining an injury in a March Betway Premiership game against Mamelodi Sundowns. The 23-year-old defender, who had cemented his place at Bafana Bafana, was ruled out for the remainder of the previous season.
Meanwhile, Msimango missed the end of the 2024/25 campaign due to a groin injury, including Amakhosi’s last five league matches and the Nedbank Cup final.
Amakhosi struggled without its top defenders, finishing ninth in the league despite defeating rivals Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final to end their 10-year trophy drought.
CHIEFS DEFENDERS DORTLEY AND MSIMANGO NEARING RETURN
Speaking to the media at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena on Monday, Ben Youssef stated that both Dortley and Msimango are on the mend and are expected to be ready to play in a few weeks. Indications suggest Dortley will be back by October.
“With Dortley, he keeps working with our medical staff, who are doing a very good job with him,” said Ben Youssef. “Soon, I think in a few weeks, he’ll be back with us, and he and Given will start the training sessions with the team.”
With Dortley and Msimango nearing their return, along with Zitha Kwinika also vying for the centre-back position, a welcome selection headache awaits the coaching staff.
BEN YOUSSEF WELCOMES DEFENSIVE COMPETITION AT CHIEFS
Ben Youssef, who has been leading Chiefs alongside second assistant coach Cedric Kaze in head coach Nabi’s absence, stated that this level of competition is a positive development, especially after the team finished last season with numerous defenders sidelined by injury.
In the new 2025/26 season, Chiefs have relied on the young duo of Aden McCarthy and captain Inácio Miguel at the heart of their defence. McCarthy and Miguel have been instrumental in the club’s back-to-back clean sheets to open the league campaign. McCarthy, in particular, has been a standout, earning consecutive Man of the Match awards for his impressive defensive performances in wins against Stellenbosch FC and Polokwane City FC.
“I think last season it was tough for us when we finished the season,” added Ben Youssef.” We finished the last three games without defenders on the bounce. Msimango, Zitha and Dortley were all injured, so we promoted Aden to play in the last two games. This season, we have started without Msimango and Dortley, as they are still injured, and when they come back, they will help the team with the experience they have and also with the confidence they will fight for this position.
“But now I think Aden with Miguel they performed very well, Zitha is coming also, he’s ready, so now when they will be back, it’s competition, and we know when you have a lot of players, the level for the players will increase.
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