Kaizer Chiefs head coach Giovanni Solinas has revealed that Daniel Cardoso did not play against Orlando Pirates last Saturday due to a virus.
Chiefs have used five central defenders this season with Cardoso and Siyabonga Ngezana the most consistent starting pair, having played seven of 15 matches together.
The centre-back last featured for the Glamour Boys in a 0-0 draw with Highlands Park at the beginning of October, and played no part in the Soweto derby defeat to Pirates.
Solinas came under some scrutiny for having fielded the inexperienced Ngezana alongside Mario Booysen, though it is now clear that Cardoso could play no part as he was unwell.
He told reporters: “Also in this department [centrebacks] we don’t change for the sake of changing. We change because of injured players.
“For example, with Daniel Cardoso, he stayed 10 days without training because he had a gastro problem.
“It’s a virus. And he also stayed separated from his teammates, because it was contagious.
“And he has not trained for 10 days. He has lost weight because he has not eaten [properly]. So it was not possible to play with Daniel.”
