Arthur Zwane has delivered bad news ahead of Kaizer Chiefs’ next league match and the Soweto derby next week.
Chiefs’ hopes of booking a CAF Champions League spot were shattered last week when they lost 1-0 to Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Babina Noko completed a double when they put an end to Amakhosi’s seven-match unbeaten run [in all competitions] on Sunday. On the other hand, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United – both vying for the runner-up spot – were victorious in their assignments.
Pirates beat Cape Town City 2-1, while United beat AmaZulu by a similar scoreline.
ARTHUR ZWANE DELIVERS BAD NEWS
With just four games left, Matsatsantsa are second with 47 points, while Bucs are on 46, having played a game less.
Chiefs are on 41 ahead of their encounter with Chippa United in Gqeberha on Freedom Day.
Giving an update to the club’s website, Zwane had some bad news to share, which would certainly have an impact on how they approach the Nedbank Cup Soweto Derby.
Chiefs lock horns with neighbours Pirates in the Nedbank semi-final at FNB Stadium next Saturday.
But they will have to do without one of their key players. “We have players who are not going to be available for this one. A notable one will be Keagan Dolly, who is going to be out until the end of the season,” Zwane said.
Dolly will miss the remaining three league matches and the Nedbank Cup. He had to be substituted in the Sekhukhune tie, and as he walked out, the former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker was teary. It looked like a knee injury, although the club has not confirmed the nature and extent of the knock.
TWO POSSIBLE DOLLY REPLACEMENTS
Zwane has named two players who could replace the injured Dolly for the Chippa tie and possibly the Bucs one.
“We are going to try and tweak the team here and there to get the right balance. It’s going to be between Happy [Mashiane] and [Kgaogelo] Sekgota [to replace Dolly].
“We’re going to see who is going to be mentally and physically ready for this game. The fact that we have been playing back-to-back also took a lot from the players, so we will try and manage some of them because we don’t want to risk injuries.”
The clash against the Chilli Boys is set for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 15h00 on Thursday.
Chippa Mpengesi’s charges will be eager to win it and move away from the relegation zone. They are in 15th place with 26 points from 26 games. A win could move them two places up as they scurry for safety.
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