Rushwin Dortley could be close to ending an 18-month spell on the sidelines at Kaizer Chiefs, although the defender still faces a number of obstacles before he is ready to return to action.
The 24-year-old central defender has not played competitive football since suffering a serious knee injury in March 2025. He was, however, included on the substitutes’ bench for Chiefs’ goalless draw with Golden Arrows.
Dortley will need time to rebuild his match fitness after such a lengthy absence, but his return to the squad represents an encouraging development for Amakhosi supporters. His appearance among the substitutes suggests his recovery has reached an important stage, even though there is no immediate indication that he is ready to start.
Chiefs have also suffered several fresh injury setbacks. First-choice goalkeeper Brandon Petersen is expected to be unavailable for up to six weeks after sustaining a knee injury in training.
Versatile attacker Wandile Duba is set to miss a few weeks with a hip and groin problem, while new signing Lebohang Maboe was forced off in the second half against Golden Arrows. The extent of Maboe’s injury has not yet been established.
Maboe’s absence would be a setback for both the player and the club. The 32-year-old playmaker withdrew from the Bafana squad for the matches against Guinea and Eritrea, and has contributed two goals and two assists in seven Betway Premiership appearances this season.
Chiefs are also without talented attacker Langelihle Phili, who has a long-term ankle injury. He could return in mid-October.
The club’s injury list comes during a lengthy international break, giving the squad further time to recover before its next league fixture. The Glamour Boys will host Stellenbosch on Saturday, 17 October at 15:30.
Dortley’s presence on the bench against Golden Arrows offers Chiefs a potential boost, but the defender’s eventual return to the starting line-up is likely to depend on how quickly he can regain full fitness after his serious knee problem.
