The rebuilding of Kaizer Chiefs looks to be taking shape from their backline, as assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef confirmed the near return of Rushwin Dortley and Given Msimango to add to the already existing selection headache of the technical team, as competition continues to mount in defensive positions.
Last season, Amakhosi struggled with several defenders being sidelined with injuries, including Dortley, who had to undergo surgery at an early stage of the season, while Msimango picked up an injury and missed the last two months of the season.
Chiefs bolstered their backline with three new players, including Paseka Mako and Nkanyiso Shinga, who will compete with Bradley Cross and Happy Mashiane for a starting berth in the left back position, while Thabiso Monyane joins Dillan Solomons and Reeve Frosler on the right.
DDC graduate Aden McCarthy has formed a solid partnership with Inacio Miguel, and they look to be the preferred centre-back pairing for Nasreddine Nabi. Zitha Kwinika, who is yet to be featured this season, played a crucial role in Chiefs’ ending the decade-long trophy drought when they lifted the Nedbank Cup.
Ben Youssef confirmed that the two defenders are close to joining the team in training as they prepare for their long-awaited return.
“I think with Dortley, he keeps working with our medical staff, they did very good job with him. Soon, I think few weeks he will be back with us and Given too they start the training session with the team,” Ben Youssef said to the media on Monday.
The assistant coach admitted that the club experienced struggles with their backline, which led to them finishing ninth on the log and having conceded 32 goals. He said he is positive that having several players competing for the same position will raise the level of their performance.
“I think last season it was tough for us when we finished the season. We finished the last three games without defenders. Msimango, Zitha and Dortley were all injured, so we promoted Aden to play in the last two games,” he added.
“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.
The Glamour Boys are enjoying a good start to their new campaign, having won their two opening fixtures and kept clean sheets in both matches. Ben Youssef credited the goalkeeper coach, Ilyes Mzoughi, for the great work that he did to improve Brandon Petersen’s performance.
“We must say congratulations to coach Ilyes Mzoughi, the improvement of Peterson was very good. With two clean sheets, his performance was very good. He was ready, he helped the team against Stellenbosch, he made three or four saves, also against Polokwane City, and he was ready.
“His attitude is ready, and like I said, we have to say congratulations to Peterson first and Coach Mzoughi. Peterson received a lot of criticism last season, but we proved that when you work hard, anything is possible,” he concluded.