Further greenlights for Chiefs defender’s return
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Rushwin Dortley is back available for selection at Kaizer Chiefs after a year-and-a-half out due to injury.
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Further greenlights for Chiefs defender’s return
Sep 25, 2026 – 12:36 pm
By Lovemore Moyo
Kaizer Chiefs will have Rushwin Dortley in improved condition upon the end of the FIFA break following his return from his long injury absence.
Dortley has already featured in friendly matches for the club since becoming available to play and was on the bench for the league match against Golden Arrows.
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That was the first time he was named in the matchday squad since the defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on March 1, 2025, when Nasreddine Nabi was still the coach.
The 24-year-old has been through a frustrating year-and-a-half during which he has not played in 63 matches at Chiefs.
He has undergone two surgeries and, during that time, experienced the misfortune of missing out on the AFCON finals earlier this year and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In his absence, Bafana Bafana now have Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Khulumani Ndamane, and Samkelo Kabini queuing up for the left centre-back position.
Chiefs have been cautious in handling his return, but Fernando da Cruz will be keen to hand him minutes in the build-up to the Soweto derby.
AmaKhosi have CAF Confederation Cup commitments against Zambian club Red Arrows, one league match and a Carling KnockOut first round match to play before they face Orlando Pirates on October 31.
Dortley is now in full training and merely needs to gather match fitness.
“He underwent surgery twice, so we have to be careful,” pointed out Da Cruz a month ago in responding to questions about the towering centre-back.
“We need to get him back to his best and train a little with the group in small sequences.
“For now, he has done individual and collective work, but we manage him every day and every week.
“So, we will go step by step because we don’t want him to have another injury again when he comes back.
“We have to be careful because the injuries he had were serious, but we are in link with the medical staff, so we manage his training load.
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“He is a player that I knew two years ago, so I know his quality and how it will be beneficial to the team this season when he comes back.
“It will take time for him to come back, but when he comes back, he will be 100% ready,” said Da Cruz.