Kaizer Chiefs Suffer Another Injury Blow as George Matlou Is Ruled Out
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has confirmed that midfielder George Matlou will miss the team’s upcoming DStv Premiership clash against Stellenbosch FC due to injury. This comes as a significant setback for Amakhosi, who have been dealing with a growing list of unavailable players this season.
The news follows Chiefs’ dramatic 2-2 draw against AmaZulu FC at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening. While the game saw striker Tashreeq Morris make his debut, Chiefs relied on two own goals from Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Richard Ofori to salvage a point.
Speaking to the media after the match, Nabi explained the reasoning behind his lineup changes and highlighted the injury struggles plaguing his squad. “There were some players that even GPS data showed were in the red zone after the last game, like [Sibongiseni] Mthethwa. Late in the last match, he was experiencing discomfort in his muscles due to fatigue,” Nabi revealed.
He also provided updates on other players, stating, “George Matlou, who was injured last time, was not available today and will not be available for the next game.”
Matlou’s injury is particularly heartbreaking as the midfielder had only recently returned to form after missing nine months of action. His standout performances this season included a Man-of-the-Match display in a Nedbank Cup Last 32 tie against Free Agents FC.
The injury woes don’t end there for Chiefs. Midfielder Njabulo Blom remains suspended, and the fitness of Mduduzi Shabalala continues to be a concern, as he is yet to regain full match sharpness following a recent injury. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Gaston Sirino, who also recently returned from injuries, may be called upon to fill the gap in the midfield.
Chiefs will now turn their focus to Friday’s fixture against Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium. Kick-off is set for 19:30, and the Soweto giants will hope to navigate their growing injury crisis to secure a positive result on the road.
