Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has issued a positive update on the recovery of defender Rushwin Dortley, who has been out for over a year due to an injury.
The Bafana Bafana defender has not featured in a competitive match since the beginning of the current season, having suffered a serious knee injury toward the end of the 2024/25 campaign. Although the club initially indicated that Dortley had undergone successful surgery and was expected to make a swift recovery, his return has been significantly delayed.
It has now been 13 months since the 23-year-old was first sidelined, with reports suggesting his rehabilitation was slowed by the necessity of a second operation.
Consequently, the former Cape Town Spurs player looks increasingly likely to miss out on a place in Hugo Broos’ squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
But speaking after the 0-0 draw against Polokwane City FC at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday in the Betway Premiership, Kaze revealed that Dortley had now started touching the ball.
KAIZER CHIEFS COACH ISSUES POSITIVE UPDATE ON RUSHWIN DORTLEY
“That’s a question that will probably be directed to the medical team. But last week he started to touch the ball, and I am pretty sure that he’s not far from returning,” he said.
HOW CEDRIC KAZE PLANS TO UTILISE REEVE FROSLER AFTER LONG INJURY
Meanwhile, Kaze also explained how they want to gradually use Reeve Frosler, who also recently returned from a long layoff. The 28-year-old created two chances against Magesi FC midweek after coming in as a second-half substitute.
“He was out injured for a long time. A player like that, you want to introduce him step by step and not to go in with the excitement or hype or giving him too much workload, and there is a risk of injury,” explained Kaze.
“He’s a player who is coming along very well, and he’s a player who can help and has a lot of experience. He has an attacking flair, and his tackling is good. He’s intelligent when he gets into positions where he can make good crosses, and I am pretty sure that from now until the end of the season, he will help a lot.”
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