adminAaron Dube in Johannesburg, South Africa
KAIZER Chiefs striker Kingstone Nkhatha was substituted after he sustained a dead leg during their tough encounter against their perennial rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon at Soccer City Stadium.The Warriors striker said he would be back at training today.
He said the injury was not that bad as reported and he is eager to return to work ahead of the MTN Top 8 which kicks off this weekend.
Amakhosi will take on Tendai Ndoro’s Mpumalanga Black Aces at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Nkhatha told Chronicle Sport on Monday evening: “I’m lucky that the injury isn’t that serious as said. I only had to rest for just two days and on Wednesday it’s business as usual. It was painful though to see the team losing on penalties and not being part of it.
“I’m confident that the team will do well in the MTN Top 8 matches and I know Chiefs has all the necessary arsenal that will give us victory at the end.”
Nkhatha, who was signed from Limpopo side Black Leopards a few seasons ago, has been unlucky with the Mighty Amakhosi fans as they boo him on numerous occasions but at the end he has silenced them with goals.
His coach Stuart Baxter is one man who has stood by the Zimbabwean striker.
The MTN matches start on Friday evening with Onismor Bhasera’s Bidvest Wits dating Bloemfontein Celtic at Milpark’s Bidvest Wits Stadium in Johannesburg.
On Saturday, Cuthbert Malajila, Khama Billiat, Esrom Nyandoro, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Method Mwanjali and Nyasha Mushekwi’s Mamelodi Sundowns plays host to Platinum Stars at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria.
On the same evening George Chigova’s SuperSport United will clash with Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.
derick.khumalo