Beaten 1-0 in the first leg in Zambia, Kaizer Chiefs host Red Arrows on Friday in Durban. Coach Fernando Da Cruz gave an update on his injured players on Thursday, with five players missing from the last two matches, without naming his squad.
Five players missing from the last two matches, a run of six games without a win in all competitions and a one-goal deficit to overturn: Kaizer Chiefs have little margin for error. On the eve of the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round against Zambia’s Red Arrows, scheduled for Friday in Durban, coach Fernando Da Cruz faced the press on Thursday to give a medical update on his squad, according to iDiski Times.
The South African club lost 1-0 in the first leg in Zambia and must turn the tie around on Friday to hope for qualification to the group stage for a second consecutive season.
Fewer muscle injuries since the start of the season
Asked about the unavailable players, Da Cruz welcomed the drop in muscle injuries this season. “It’s a good thing to talk about the injured players because since the start of the season, we have reduced the number of muscle injuries. If we compare with other seasons, we have only had three muscle injuries. The others are impact injuries, very unlucky like Mako in pre-season with his broken arm. We are on the right track, the players will come back, not now but step by step.”
The case of defender Paseka Mako illustrates this distinction: his broken arm, sustained during pre-season preparation, was a stroke of bad luck according to the coach.
Five absentees in the last two matches
In their last two matches, Kaizer Chiefs had to do without midfielders Lebohang Maboe, Adolf Mtasingwa, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Langelihle Phili and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen. On their return, the coach sticks to the same line: the players will come back “step by step”. No date has been given.
While the coach detailed the nature of the injuries, he did not reveal the squad selected to face Red Arrows. The coach was unwilling to disclose the exact list of players called up for Friday. The Amakhosi are on a run of six consecutive matches without a win in all competitions.
Durban as a last chance
Beaten 1-0 in Zambia, Kaizer Chiefs must win in Durban to continue their CAF Confederation Cup campaign and target a second consecutive season in the group stage, as indicated by iDiski Times. The second leg is set for Friday 23 October 2026.
The five absentees from the recent matches could, in the coach’s words, return “step by step”, though it is unclear which of them will be available on Friday.