Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Matlou has offered a heartfelt and honest reflection on his time at Naturena, describing the emotional and physical toll injuries have taken on his career at the club. Despite a season largely spent on the sidelines, the 25-year-old remains optimistic about the future as he battles his way back to full fitness.
Matlou has made only 13 appearances for Chiefs this season, highlighting just how disrupted his campaign has been. He featured for just 14 minutes in the goalless draw against Chippa United and has found himself as an unused substitute in recent matches, including the 2-1 defeats to Marumo Gallants and Orlando Pirates.
His limited game time can largely be attributed to a prolonged injury layoff that sidelined him for nearly nine months. Reflecting on this challenging period during a recent media briefing, Matlou did not shy away from expressing the emotional weight of being out of action for such a long time.
“I’m happy to be back. It’s been a difficult time for me. I would say it was a bit hard for me to heal, but I’m glad that I am fully recovered and fully fit,” Matlou said.
The midfielder opened up about the frustration of watching from the sidelines as his teammates continued with their campaigns on the pitch.
“It was a hard journey for me because it had been almost a year without doing what I love. So, going to training, seeing your teammates going to the field but you are going the other way, you are going to the gym, you can imagine how I was feeling,” he explained. “Imagine going every day to training, but you are not taking any part in it. It was a bit hard for me, but I have learned during the journey, and I’m also happy to be back.”
Matlou’s comments come at a time when Kaizer Chiefs are under immense scrutiny following inconsistent performances this season. Despite that, the midfielder praised the club for standing by him during his recovery.
“Of course, you would be a bit worried because you don’t know where your future is. So, I had to wait for the club to make the decision. I’m grateful that they believed in me and they gave me another opportunity to stay.”
His sentiments reflect the resilience and determination that many fans hope will help rejuvenate both his career and the club’s midfield depth going forward.
Kaizer Chiefs are set for a crucial showdown with their archrivals Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. The match presents a chance for Matlou to contribute meaningfully if called upon, and perhaps cap off a difficult season with silverware.
