Mushin Ertugral brings his team into Saturday evening's match against Santos in Durban knowing full well that anything but a victory and a finish inside the top eight becomes more of a challenge.

The Chiefs coach would love for his team to get three points off Santos, and another three when they return to Durban on Wednesday to play Golden Arrows. Six points will help Chiefs strengthen a top eight place as Ertugral does not want to have to wait till the last day of the season to find the necessary points.

He is though somewhat on the back foot on Saturday as he says that Chiefs are short of personal on the left wing with the absence of Siphiwe Tshabalala through suspension.

Sho’t Left

Chiefs have had a problem in filling the left midfield slot as Siphiwe Tshabalala is serving a suspension and David Obua injured a hamstring in midweek, which has meant that Muhsin Ertugral has had to come up with an alternative.

He has opted to play David Mathebula on the left and explained his decision by saying, “we knew during the week that we were going to have a problem on the left and trained with David Mathebula on the left side of midfield”. While Mathebula switches over to the left Thuso Phala comes into make his fourth league start of the season, he fundamentally takes Tshabalala’s place.

Backline change

Jonathan Quartey has not been able to play against Santos as he has not recovered in time from a calf injury he picked up when Chiefs were last in league action on the 13th April against Mamelodi Sundowns; instead Fabian McCarthy who was suspended for the Sundowns match replaces him. Michael Nkambule replaces fellow rookie Sandile Zuke amongst the substitutes, with Thuso Phala moving up into a starting slot it has opened up a space on the bench for Wayne Matle.

Match Information:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 6. McCarthy, 29. Tsotetsi,

8. Nengomasha, 27. Sibeko, 24. Mathebula, 26. Phala, 17. Bartlett, 5. Khenyeza




Substitutes: 16. Baron, 7. Motaung Junior, 33. Mototo, 25. Matle, 18. Zwane,

10. Nkambule, 28. Spencer, 25. Matle

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Santos (4-4-2): 1. Roberts, 2. Otieno, 22. Makonese, 16. Arendse, 19. Oakes,

20. October, 25. Fransch, 4. Gabonamong, 32. Chimodzi, 11. Scott, 9. Rodgers




Substitutes: 35. Langeveldt, 17. Jordan, 6. Bax, 12. Nauseb, 8. Mngomeni, 14. Paulse,

7. Chapman

Coach: David Bright


Assistant Coach: Jean – Marc Ithier


Assistant Coach: Salie Adams


Goalkeeper Coach: Andre Bronkhorst

Match Officials:


Referee: Jonas Nhlapho


Assistant 1: Yugesh Anjith


Assistant 2: Shahiem Salot


4th Official: Yusuf Vawda


Match Commissioner: Robert Pillay