Kaizer Chiefs head coach Molefi Ntseki has explained why S’fiso Hlanti was absent from the squad against Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday.
Hlanti, 33, was a noticeable absentee when Amakhosi beat Stellies 2-0 at Athlone Stadium, with Reeve Frosler covering the left-back spot.
Hlanti is on three yellow cards and was at risk of missing the MTN8 semi-final first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns had he picked up another booking, but Ntseki insisted his absence was due squad rotation as they wanted to rest some players.
“We needed to rest some of the players because we’ve been playing back-to-back matches, so I think the management of the players was very important important,” Ntseki said after the match when asked by iDiski Times about Hlanti.
“Even today we had to rest some of the players, not necessarily to weaken the team but to strengthen the team because the energy levels you could see that they were getting depleted and all the players that played today, whoever was on the pitch he did a very good job in terms of our game plan and also winning the game which is a confidence booster going into the next game.
“So those that were on the bench, even those that we left them in Johannesburg, they know what is expected from them whenever we have to play the next game.”
Chiefs will host Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
