IT IS LIKE Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz bought new players, following the news of the full recovery of the Naturena team’s stopper, Rushwin Dortley and Nigerian striker, Etiosa Ighodaro, who has also been hampered by injury.
As Chiefs have started preparations for the new Betway Premiership season, Dortley and Ighodaro were seen training fully with the team.
Dortley (24), who came to Chiefs in 2024 from Cape Town Spurs, stood out in his first season and it was clear that he is the future of the Kings.
This led to him being called up to the national team, Bafana Bafana, by coach Hugo Broos.
Dortley’s problems started in March last year, when he seriously injured his knee when Chiefs faced Mamelodi Sundowns in a league match.
This injury forced Dortley to undergo surgery in July last year. Until today, this player has never been seen in the Chiefs scheme since it has been revealed that he is training fully with this team that is preparing to play the Toyota Cup at the end of the month.
This is like a blessing for Da Cruz since it increases the number of players he will have to check before coming out with the word that Chiefs will focus on the player market or not.
As Chiefs have recently signed Thabo Moloisane who played for Stellenbosch FC, this increases the competition for the jersey at center back. Last season you were among Zitha Kwinika, Inacio Miguel, Given Msimango and Aden McCaerthy who is now playing overseas.
The situation is exactly the same as that of Ighodaro who came to Chiefs last season with the promise that he will score goals from MaZulu FC.
This Nigerian striker has a history of knowing where the goals are, but his numbers for Chiefs in the first season are shocking as he scored one goal. He scored when Amakhosi beat AS Simba 3-1 in the Caf Confederation Cup match. An injury cost him the opportunity to make his own jersey at Naturena.
Since he is back, there is no question that he will intensify the rivalry with Flavio Da Silva, Wandile Duba, Khanyisa Mayo and Naledi Hlongwane, who has been promoted to the big scheme following his long-standing appearance in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) Kings team.