Kaizer Chiefs return to DStv Premiership action today against Sekhukhune United with several fringe players set to be afforded chances – here is how they could line up at FNB Stadium.
Chiefs were hit with a Covid-19 outbreak which saw a total of 45 positive cases recorded over the past two weeks and a temporary closure of their Naturena Village training centre.
With their technical staff and even reserve team players affected, they did not honour their games against Cape Town City (H) and Golden Arrows (A) – but after reopening their grounds, Chiefs are now ready to field a team.
Assistant coach Arthur Zwane looks poised to lead the squad, something he did during the back end of the 2020/21 season before head coach Stuart Baxter officially assumed his role as Gavin Hunt’s successor.
“We are looking forward to the game against Sekhukhune. We have had players that started training from late in the week and it’s like starting from the beginning again,” Zwane told the club’s website ahead of the game.
“The sessions are called return to training and we are checking to see if they are coping physically. In the first and second sessions, they struggled.
“Most of the guys are not ready to play 90 minutes. It’s a case of trying to manage match minutes, so that they can all share the load.
“We will try and balance the squad so that the playing time can be shared. The good news is that over the course of the week more players have been returning to the team from isolation.”
And on the basis of what Amakhosi have revealed and their training videos, the players available for selection is likely to be line-up in a 3-4-3 system.
Chiefs predicted starting XI: Bvuma; Cardoso, Mathoho, Dube, Blom, Akumu, Baccus, Mashiane, Parker, Castro, Dolly.
The likes of Sabelo Radebe, Kgaogelo Sekgota, Siyabonga Ngezana, Lazarous Kambole and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo are also seemingly available for Amakhosi.
