Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has explained the absence of key defender Rushwin Dortley as the Naturena-based side bounced back to winning form against Magesi FC.
The Soweto giants put the disappointment of the weekend's 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns with a laboured 1-0 victory over Magesi on Tuesday at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
A second-half strike by substitute Ashley Du Preez decided the outcome in a match where Nabi had been forced to make several changes due to suspensions, knocks, and a congested fixtures list.
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The side were without Thabo Cele, who missed out due to suspension of accumulated yellow cards and Gaston Sirino, serving his two-match ban after receiving a red card against SuperSport United.
Tashreeq Morris also missed out due to injury.
Perhaps most notably, though, ever-present Dortley did not make the match-day squad.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Nabi put the Khosi Nation at ease.
"About Dortley, it's just a discomfort. We didn't want to take a risk, and he will be back for the next game," Nabi told journalists at the Calabash.
In the former Cape Town Spurs man's absence, Given Msimango played at right centre-back, alongside Inacio Miguel.
Dortley is part of the 37-man preliminary Bafana Bafana squad that will take on Lesotho and Benin in World Cup qualifiers later this month.
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He has been hailed as a bright spark in an Amakhosi defence that has conceded 24 goals in 20 league games, with his reading of the game, composure, timing in the tackle and passing ability among his standout abilities.
As they prepare to take on Stellenbosch FC at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, the club's fans will be pleased with the news the left-footer's injury is not a serious one after all.