Kaizer Chiefs have plenty to be optimistic about on the pitch, but there are good things happening in the background too.
Rushwin Dortley’s debut campaign was cruelly cut short, but the talented defender is returning soon.
Here’s the latest.
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It’s amazing how quickly things can change in football. The margins between success and failure have never been finer; failure to win the Nedbank Cup and another finish outside of the top eight would surely have been a step too far for many Chiefs fans. Instead, the Nedbank Cup is securely in the trophy cabinet, and Amakhosi have started the 2025-2026 season in blistering form, winning four and drawing one of their five matches in the league.
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Rushwin Dortley will be back for Kaizer Chiefs
The first half of the campaign was one to forget for Chiefs. Rushwin Dortley, however, was one of the true bright sparks of a season threatening to peter out into nothing. The 23-year-old central defender from Cape Town immediately looked assured and at home in big matches for Chiefs, and indeed South Africa. Losing Dortley in March was a massive blow as the youngster needed surgery. Dortley quickly became a key pillar in the defence, making 21 appearances across all competitions before being struck down. The technical team will need to be cautious when they reintroduce him to the fold after such a lengthy layoff, but it’s undoubtedly a huge plus to see him on the comeback trail.
What’s the latest from Kaizer Chiefs on Dortley?
“Rushwin Dortley is running around a pitch, which is nearly empty – well, except for physiotherapist Phumzile Ngobese, who is monitoring the defender’s run closely,” Amakhosi announced on 15 July.
“The Amakhosi squad is training at another field of the Dutch amateur side WWNA in Wenum-Wiesell, which is basically next to Kaizer Chiefs’ hotel in Apeldoorn. Dortley is partly jogging; at other times, he increases his pace.”
