Stuart Baxter has given an update on which players will not be available for his side’s MTN8 clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Englishman will take charge of his second official game for Amakhosi, having lost the CAF Champions League final 3-0 to Al Ahly.
The Glamour Boys then won the Carling Black Label Cup against Orlando Pirates on penalties, but the game is not part of the official PSL calendar.
On Sunday, Chiefs will face Sundowns in the MTN8 quarter-final, having beaten them 2-1 when the two teams met last season, ending Masandawana’s unbeaten run.
“In terms of injuries, Lebo Manyama did his first training with team. It doesn’t mean he is fit, but fit enough to train. We’ve got the ones that are injured long-term, Leo Castro, Dumisani Zuma,” he said in his pre-match press conference.
“We’ve got a few other ones that came back late from the Olympics. We’ve got a couple of injuries and we’ve the players that have taken part in training. We know they had a enough rest, they’ve done structural training with us.
“I can’t see any huge surprises that you will see someone who you haven’t see in training for a few months.”
Baxter also opened on the difficulties around the club’s pre-season.
“After the final, when I came in we got a couple of league games that I was taking part in and that was a one off. Then the two semi-finals against Wydad, were a one-off and the final, too.
“We gave them five days off, some people went to the Olympics and had their five days when they came back from the Olympics. Maybe we haven’t done the work we would’ve wanted to have done at this stage. It will be work in progress.”
Last year, Chiefs defeated Maritzburg United 2-1 in the quarter-final but were beaten 3-0 and 2-0 by eventual MTN8 winners Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals.
Story by David Kappel (@kappilinho).
