After posting their worst-ever season, an old enemy within the club's ranks seems to have struck Kaizer Chiefs for the second consecutive campaign, although interim head coach Cavin Johnson played it down.
Chiefs could not qualify for the Top Eight and, worst of all, had their lowest finish in PSL history after ending up in 10th place on the standings following a 2-0 defeat to relegated Cape Town Spurs.
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The Glamour Boys had promising periods under former head coach Arthur Zwane in 2022/23 but ended in fifth and before he was relieved of his duties, he revealed post the campaign what exactly derailed their efforts.
"To sum it all up, I would say injuries hindered our progress this season and unfortunately it's something we couldn't control, we couldn't control injuries," Zwane said on Kaizer Chiefs TV.
"Football is a contact sport and anything can happen. I've never seen so many injuries in one season. We lost two players at some point, who collided with each other – it just didn't make sense.
"As I said, injuries were the enemy of progress. It was for sure a tough one, but everything happens for a reason. We are all part of the game," he added.
Amakhosi seem to have suffered the same fate in the 2023/24 season, as they had key players out at one point or another with serious injuries.
The likes of Ashley Du Preez, S'fiso Hlanti, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Tebogo Potsane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, George Matlou and Keagan Dolly were all, at some stage, affected by serious injuries, with some unable to return in time before the season's conclusion.
Following their defeat to Spurs, Johnson was asked whether injuries played a big part in Chiefs not fulfilling the potential they showed after he took over and eventually plunging to 10th spot after the 30th game.
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"Yes, we did have a lot of injuries this season. Whether it affected our rhythm, yes or no? Only God can tell us that," Johnson told journalists at Cape Town Stadium.
"It affected us in some moments, but I don't think it affected us to really do the best," he offered.
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