Kaizer Chiefs center-back Rushwin Dortley has been a hit at both the club and national team in the past several months.
The 22-year-old joined the Glamour Boys from Cape Town Spurs in the most recent Premier Soccer League transfer. He has won coach Nasreddine Nabi's heart with his consistent displays explaining why he has played in all seven competitive games for Amakhosi across all competitions.
Dortley is also a regular in the Bafana Bafana squad that recently qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
While Franklin Cale, Erwin Isaacs, Dominic Isaacs, Eleazar Rodgers Carlo Scott, and the like failed to adapt to life in Johannesburg, Dortley is proving otherwise.
‘I understand that I came to Joburg for work'
“The past few months must have been a dream come true. It's not easy for someone to just come to a club as big as this and start games and go into Bafana and start games there as well, continuously,” he told the media.
“I am blessed. What has helped me to adapt to life in Johannesburg so quickly is staying focused. I understand that I came to Joburg for work and not for other things. My family is also making things easier for me by visiting now and then. They [his family] keep telling me to stick to the good things that I did in Cape Town.
“All the players have their own different experiences and their way of adapting to different environments. Every player that's in Cape Town doesn't have to look at other players that didn't adapt well here in Joburg, they have to come to see for themselves because every person is different,” Dortley added.
I don't go out unless…
Dortley further explained why he prefers to remain indoors despite the many places he can visit in the ‘City of Gold.'
“I don't see the difference between Cape Town and Johannesburg because for me it's just training and going home every day,” he added.
“I don't go out unless I have to go buy food. Everyone knows that the traffic is bad here in Joburg; it's hectic and you have to leave an hour early to get somewhere.”
Kaizer Chiefs are winless in their last four games across all competitions but Dortley believes they will collect maximum points in their next two Premier Soccer League assignments at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“Our focus is on the next two games, coming up in Polokwane against Richards Bay and Royal AM. The best thing is always to set short-term goals rather than setting long-term goals because you are in control of short-term goals.”
