Posted in News, Team News on Jul 14, 2025.
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.
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.
About four months ago, the 23-year-old seriously injured his knee. It required surgery.
"I was tackled from the side," he reflects on the incident. No yellow card was given to the opponent.
After the operation, the left-footer first had to slowly start walking again, just to strengthen the muscles.
When that all went well, Dortley moved to the treadmill. First to walk, and then, later, a few runs followed.
"This is my first serious injury that needed an operation," he comments.
It has been a tough few months. "One has to be strong mentally, as you want to play, but you can't. It's not easy, but I do know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Physiotherapist Ngobese agrees with Dortley's sentiments. "It's tough for a player not to be part of the team operation.
"However, Rushwin is working tremendously hard, continuously pushing himself."
The defender's steady progress is being continuously monitored. So far, it's steady and on time.
During the off-season, Dortley was at Chiefs' headquarters at The Village every day, to train on his own. Even during a visit for two weeks to the Cape, where he hails from, he trained every second day under the watchful eye of a biokineticist.
The tall talented defender had caught the eye of South Africa's national team coach Hugo Broos before the injury.
Dortley is happy that he could join his fellow Glamour Boys for their pre-season training session in the Netherlands.
"I have a lot of support from my family," says the centre-back, who was born in Belhar, a small town in the Western Cape. "My girlfriend, my father, my mother, my brother... They are all playing a huge role on my road to full recovery."
Great support also comes from his Amakhosi teammates.
"That's how the team is," Dortley explains. "If one is injured, we can all feel the loss of a player. We are one!"
