Kaizer Chiefs Face Sundowns Without Key Stars as Naturena Camp Sweats Over Injuries

Injuries Disrupt Amakhosi Momentum

Kaizer Chiefs will go into their midweek showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns with more questions than answers about squad fitness. Newly signed striker Etiosa Ighodaro has been sidelined after picking up an injury at training, while two promising young players, Shinga and Cross, have been ruled out sick. To make matters worse, breakout star Aden McCarthy has not trained since the weekend.

McCarthy’s absence would be a huge blow. The teenager has been the standout performer in Chiefs’ first three matches, scooping back-to-back man-of-the-match awards in the opening rounds of the Betway Premiership. Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze confirmed that the medical team is racing against time to have him fit for Wednesday night’s clash at FNB Stadium.

Long-Term Injuries Still a Concern

Bafana Bafana defenders Rushwin Dortley and Given Msimango are also still out with long-term knocks. Kaze suggested both could be available by next month, but for now, Chiefs will need to rely on depth and experience to steady the ship.

Sundowns Arrive with Their Own Turmoil

Ordinarily, meeting Mamelodi Sundowns is intimidating. They are the eight-time defending Premiership champions, notorious for their depth and relentless consistency. But this week, Sundowns come in wounded. They were dumped out of the MTN8 by Orlando Pirates on penalties over the weekend, a rare slip for a side usually defined by dominance.

Off the field, uncertainty clouds the camp. Star midfielder Lucas Ribeiro, last season’s Footballer of the Year, and influential right-back Khuliso “Sailor” Mudau remain locked in contract disputes. It has created unusual instability at Chloorkop.

Even so, Kaze insists Chiefs will not be distracted. “We cannot rely on the noise around Sundowns,” he told media at Naturena. “They remain a powerful side, and we have to focus on our performance.”

Local Context: A Rivalry That Defines the PSL

For South African football fans, Chiefs vs Sundowns is more than just a league fixture. It’s a battle of two footballing cultures: Amakhosi’s traditional heritage, rooted in Naturena’s community, versus Sundowns’ modern dominance backed by deep resources and international flair.

Social media has already lit up with speculation, with Chiefs fans pleading for McCarthy to recover in time and Sundowns supporters warning that “a wounded Downs is the most dangerous Downs.” Twitter and TikTok clips from Sunday’s MTN8 semifinal have also gone viral, with Pirates’ fans piling pressure on Sundowns by mocking their penalty collapse.

Why This Game Matters

Beyond the early-season bragging rights, this fixture carries weight. Chiefs, still in a rebuilding phase, desperately want to prove they can challenge Sundowns’ dominance. Victory would inject belief into a fan base starved of league success since 2015. For Sundowns, this is a chance to silence critics and reassert control after a turbulent week.

Wednesday night promises high drama: Chiefs fighting injuries and doubts, Sundowns fighting off-field battles and bruised egos. In South African football, few fixtures carry this much emotion, pressure, and unpredictability.

Source:SABC Sport

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