Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi expects to have three key players for his team’s Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
Chiefs take on Pirates in a second straight Soweto Derby but there is more at stake this time as a trophy is on the line, with the Glamour Boys desperate to end their 10-year wait for silverware.
It will also be an opportunity to avenge last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Pirates in the PSL and while he will have to do without suspended left-back Bradley Cross, who was sent off last weekend, Nabi will welcome some key players.
Who will be back for Kaizer Chiefs?
“Cross will be suspended of course, but [Wandile] Duba is coming back from his suspension, this week we’re going to try to see, but we’re optimistic about Thabo Cele and Inacio Miguel,” Nabi said ahead of the game as quoted by iDiski Times.
“Other than that – the other players with long term injuries are still on the sidelines, like Given [Msimango], Reeve [Frosler], Rushwin Dortley, they will not be available.”
It will be a massive boost for Nabi, who will have the experience of Inacio in central defence, after Zitha Kwinika and Edmilson Dove struggled against Pirates, while Cele will improve the midfield.
Chiefs looking to end trophy drought
Meanwhile, Duba is Chiefs’ top scorer with six goals this season and his absence was felt last weekend as they lacked an attacker able to run directly at the Pirates defence.
The youngster played a crucial role in their win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-final and will be a major boost in the final after Nabi opted to play winger Glody Lilepo as a striker last weekend instead of either Tashreeq Morris and Ashley Du Preez who were on the bench.
The Nedbank Cup final will be staged at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
