Chiefs sweating over key player's return

Head coach Cavin Johnson has issued a major update on the return of key defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, who had played every match for Kaizer Chiefs before injury struck.

The former SuperSport United man has been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury on national team duty for Botswana in November 2023.

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Ditlhokwe has since undergone a major surgery and has been training with the first team from as far back as February in a bid to build up match fitness.

The 25-year-old's absence at the back has been felt, with Amakhosi’s once rock-solid defence now simply unable to keep the goals out in recent matches. The Soweto giants have kept just one clean sheet in their last five league matches and have won just four of the 12 league games they have played without Ditlhokwe.

Responding to questions on the defenders' expected return date, Johnson revealed the club would push to see Ditlhokwe in competitive action before the end of the season.

"TT (Ditlhokwe) is almost there," Johnson said.

"He is almost there. You know he had a major surgery on his rotator cuff and he has been training. He is almost there and we just hope we can give him some [game-time] before the season closes."

"But six games [left], TT is a defender, I need strikers. Maybe I’ll make him a striker to score goals for us.

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Ditlhokwe, however, is unlikely to be ready for Chiefs’ match next match against SuperSport United on Saturday.

In terms of options, Johnson still enjoys the luxury of picking from Given Msimango,  Edmilson Dove, Zitha Kwinika, Njabulo Ngcobo and Aiden McCarthy.

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