Chiefs to field much-changed side as they return to action against Sekhukhune

Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that they are returning to resume their DStv Premiership fixtures on Sunday against Sekhukhune United after refusing to play in their last two game.

READ MORE: Sekhukhune unlikely to pick off easy points as Chiefs return to action

Amakhosi could not play against Cape Town City or Golden Arrows, citing squad shortages due to an outbreak of Covid-19 at Naturena that initially rendered 31 members of staff, including many players, unavailable. For the Arrows game, Chiefs revealed they had another five positive tests in camp, taking the total to 36.

Before the City game, the Naturena side wrote to the PSL to ask that their games for the rest of December be postponed.

Phakaaathi reported earlier on Friday that Amakhosi were gearing up for their next game, and the Soweto side confirmed later on on Friday that indeed they are back at training although with a smaller squad as they prepare for their fixture.

The club has called up some of their reserve players to the senior team to make up the required number of squad players for the game.  

“Given that the few unaffected senior team players and the juniors stopped training, and went into quarantine as per the NICD and the Department of Health protocols, the medical team and the coaches will monitor their condition very closely to ensure they are healthy enough to play.  And, with such a limited pool of players available, we have to also attempt to avoid injuries at all costs,” said Chiefs’ Dr Hashendra Ramjee.

“More players and members of the technical team will gradually be coming out of isolation in the coming days and the players will be supervised and managed accordingly until they are back to full health and fitness,” he added.

Amakhosi could, meanwhile, be hauled across the coals by the PSL’s Disciplinary Committee for absconding from their games. Should they be found guilty, they could lose six points, which would be given to their opponents. 

The Premier Soccer League have remained all-but silent on the matter up to now, but have now called a press conference for Monday, where PSL chairman Irvin Khoza is set to address the issue.