Kaizer Chiefs have been plunged into another fitness conundrum after striker Glody Lilepo was stretchered off the pitch during Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup match against AS Simba.
The 27-year-old was in imperious form, grabbing Amakhosi’s third goal in the 3-1 victory at Dobsonville Stadium in this second preliminary round, second-leg clash.
He also provided an assist for September signing Etiosa Ighodaro to open his scoring account as a Chiefs player. The way Lilepo combined with Ighodaro in attack provided hope for a strong partnership that can cause problems for the Soweto giants’ opponents.
But the DR Congo international lasted 45 minutes of the encounter due to an ankle injury. A menace to his Simba compatriots, Lilepo had Amakhosi fans chanting his name even when he returned to sit on the bench while limping at the start of the second half.
Last week, Chiefs announced that their injury list was growing after losing another striker, Khanyisa Mayo, due to injury. Now, Lilepo joins those with fitness issues at Naturena ahead of the Soweto giants’ Betway Premiership trip to Durban City on Friday.
WHAT KAZE SAID ABOUT LILEPO’S INJURY
“We will have to discuss with the doctor, but it was a knock which I think shouldn’t be very bad because if it was a muscle injury, that would be another issue,” said Kaze.
“If it’s a knock, probably one or two days with ice, I think he should be ready to go on Friday against Durban City.”
Should Lilepo fail to travel to Durban while Mayo remains on the sidelines, that could be an opportunity for Tashreeq Morris and new signing Luke Baartman to play for the first time this season.
Amakhosi will be at Moses Mabhida to face their former coach Gavin Hunt whose side is on a two-match losing run. That includes last weekend’s Carling Knockout exit at the hands of Richards Bay.
A point separates fourth-placed Chiefs and City who are fifth on the PSL table.
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