Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson is facing a headache ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Cape Town City.
The Soweto giants could be without a few key players when they take on Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday at the FNB Stadium.
Chiefs will play Spurs in their next home encounter in an empty stadium. The PSL disciplinary committee slapped Chiefs with a stadium lockout for fan behaviour.
Edmilson Dove, Ashley du Preez and Sinethemba Sithebe are all ruled out of the tie due to injuries.
Dove missed the Golden Arrows tie last weekend owing to the injury he sustained during the AmaZulu encounter in the Carling Knockout Cup.
Sithebe has also struggled to get back into the midfield, especially after the signing of Edson Castillo, who has settled well.
Du Preez, the team’s top goal scorer since his arrival last season, injured himself just before the last game. He will be out for a few months.
ADDED BLOW FOR CHIEFS AHEAD OF SPURS TIE
Cavin Johnson will have to think of a midfield without Sibongiseni ‘Ox’ Mthethwa, who will be serving suspension.
Mthethwa picked the fourth yellow card against Arrows and will miss Chiefs’ next match.
The absence of such key players is a blow for Kaizer Chiefs, who are in dire need of points. The team has won just three of their nine league matches this season, a performance that led to the recent departure of coach Molefi Ntseki.
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Despite the setbacks, Johnson remains optimistic about the team’s prospects.
The Soweto giants will be looking to return to winning ways after suffering a 2-1 defeat against AmaZulu in KZN last weekend.
It was Johnson’s first game in charge after he was appointed as interim coach. He will be hoping to make a positive impression on the Chiefs faithful.
Spurs are coming from a morale-boosting win against Orlando Pirates. That 2-1 victory handed them their first win of the season, having started poorly.
It makes their work easier, and the game will be played without the home crowd.