Kaizer Chiefs Midweek Clash Could Hand Ethan Chislett His Debut

Kaizer Chiefs return to FNB Stadium on Wednesday night for a DStv Premiership clash against AmaZulu FC, with kick-off set for 19:30. The fixture could mark the long-awaited debut of off-season signing Ethan Chislett, who may find himself facing the very club his father once represented.

Amakhosi’s technical team of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are under pressure to settle the squad and prove they can help the club move past the Nasreddine Nabi saga. Ten games into the campaign, Chiefs still have several signings waiting for their first appearances. That list includes Chislett, Etiosa Ighodaro, Nkanyiso Shinga, Lebohang Maboe, Asanele Velebayi, and Luke Baartman.

Baartman is unavailable due to his participation at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile with Amajita. Maboe and Ighodaro remain sidelined by injury, while Shinga and Velebayi are building fitness in training. Chislett, however, looks the most likely to get minutes after weeks of waiting.

Born in Durban on August 11, 1998, Chislett left South Africa as a child and built his career in England, spending most of his time in League One and League Two, with a short spell in Spain. His decision to join Kaizer Chiefs over a potential move to Scotland was seen as a homecoming of sorts, but he has yet to make a competitive appearance.

Joint coach Ben Youssef hinted that Wednesday could be the turning point. “Still, some injured players did not come back with us. So, we’ll keep maybe the same squad which played the last game. The last 20 players will be with us. Maybe we’ll also see Ethan in this game. And also, we have to think also about the next game on Sunday against Stellenbosch FC,” said Youssef.

If Chislett does feature, it will be against AmaZulu, the same club where his father, Donovan Chislett, played when it was still known as Zulu Royals in the 2002/03 season. Donovan’s career also included a spell at Manning Rangers before he moved abroad.

The family connection adds another layer of intrigue to the fixture. Chiefs have other second-generation footballers in their ranks too, such as Khanyiso Mayo, son of Patrick Mayo, and Aden McCarthy, son of Fabian McCarthy.

With Chiefs in need of momentum and supporters calling for signs of progress, the possible debut of Ethan Chislett could be one of the key talking points of the night.