Kaizer Chiefs head coach Molefi Ntseki says there was nothing untoward about their first-team trio featuring in the DStv Diski Challenge other than getting match fitness.
Wandile Duba, Aden McCarthy and Mduduzi Shabalala were notable inclusions in Vela Khumalo’s starting line-up as they opened the season with a 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium this past weekend.
It brought some question marks from the supporters as the players were earmarked as future prospects for the senior squad and received game time last season under former coach Arthur Zwane.
“I think the league came up with a very good plan to say let’s give players minutes, time on the pitch, so with the DDC currently playing U23 players, we have a very big squad, having recruited a number of players, so competition is stiff,” he said about the trio.
“So whenever there’s an opportunity to play somebody or have a player on the pitch, you always take advantage of that opportunity and I think all the players understand the importance of being on the pitch.
“It’s happened in the past, it’s happened even last season, where had Mdu, Samkelo Zwane playing for the DDC team, Duba the same. But we have a very good understanding with the players.
“We sit down, plan together with the DDC technical team and whenever they play for the DDC we do a technical report on those players, when they come back, we congratulate them because they all represent Kaizer Chiefs.
“So the demands and expectations are the same, for them to play the first league match of the DDC was important, because we played a very important game, so we wanted to strengthen our team and win the game.”
All three were present at training in the senior team this week as they prepared to face Royal AM in the DStv Premiership at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon (17h30).
