Good news for Bafana Bafana! Kaizer Chiefs provide updates on Rushwin Dortley and Given Msimango with Mamelodi Sundowns clash looming

Kaizer Chiefs' first assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has provided an update regarding injured defenders Rushwin Dortley and Given Msimango.

Ben Youssef has indicated that Dortley is in his final recovery phase and hinted that it is a matter of weeks before the Bafana Bafana defender returns to action.

The Tunisian also said Msimango could return at the same time with Dortley. 

“With Dortley, he keeps working with our medical staff, who are doing a very good job with him,” Ben Youssef told the media in a pre-match conference ahead of their game against Richards Bay.

“Soon, I think in a few weeks, he’ll be back with us, and he and Given will start the training sessions with the team," he added. 

In the absence of Dortley and Msimango, Aden McCarthy and Inacio Miguel held the fort, and how they have performed has been praised by Ben Youssef.

“I think last season it was tough for us when we finished the season. We finished the last three games without defenders on the bounce. Msimango, Zitha (Kwinika), and Dortley were all injured, so we promoted Aden to play in the last two games," he stated.

"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," he added.

“But now I think Aden and Miguel performed very well; Zitha is coming also, he’s ready, so now when they are back, it’s competition, and we know when you have a lot of players, the level for the players will increase."

When Dortley and Msimango return, this will give the technical bench more options in the defence department.

Dortley has been recovering since he got injured during a game against Mamelodi Sundowns and underwent knee surgery in March.

Msimango, on the other hand, was ruled out towards the end of last season when he suffered a groin injury. 

Their absences have been partly linked to the Chiefs' last season, when the Soweto giants ended up finishing in the ninth position. Their availability, therefore, will be welcome news for the club and its supporters in a season they have started strongly and raised their prospects of challenging for the league title.

Although their return will be good news, both will have to fight hard in order to get back their slots in the starting XIs.  

They will be back at the time McCarthy has solidified his position, and dethroning him will be a daunting task. 

Meanwhile, the good news is not only for Chiefs; Hugo Broos will be relieved to have Dortlkey back. Before he was injured, he had already cemented his position in Bafana's setup.