Positives for Chiefs defender’s return progress
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Rushwin Dortley can afford to smile again as he moves towards becoming available for selection again at Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
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Positives for Chiefs defender’s return progress
Aug 18, 2026 – 10:19 am
By Lovemore Moyo
Kaizer Chiefs defender Rushwin Dortley is a step closer to becoming available for selection again after a frustrating year-and-a-half wait on the sidelines.
Dortley last featured for Chiefs on March 1, 2025, in a 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns.
This means he is now just days away from completing 18 months since his last appearance.
By the time the Soweto giants play their next fixture away at Richards Bay FC on Wednesday next week, it will be 60 matches on the count from the day the 24-year-old last played.
The club’s coach at the time – Nasreddine Nabi – initially pointed out that this was ‘just a discomfort’
However, Dortley has since undergone two surgeries but is now closer to getting back than he has been.
Though he has been involved in training, his return has been treated with sensitivity, with Fernando da Cruz indicating the need to be cautious.
“We must be patient with Rushwin Dortley because he didn’t play for 18 months, which is long,” said Da Cruz recently.
Dortley was involved with the club’s reserve team over the weekend, giving the biggest hint that he is moving closer to high-intensity action.
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“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.
“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.
Dortley’s injury misfortunes have cost him a place at the AFCON finals and the 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.
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