Rushwin Dortley’s agent reveals fresh setback that delayed Kaizer Chiefs defender’s return

Kaizer Chiefs defender Rushwin Dortley is close to making a return after nearly a year out with an injury.

Dortley suffered a knee injury in March which needed surgery but he was expected to be back earlier than it has taken.

According to his agent Paul Mitchell, the defender should have returned to action in October but suffered a setback on his road to recovery, necessitating another procedure and is now expected back in January.

“He’s going to be back in January. He would’ve (returned earlier), but he still had some discomfort in his knee,” Mitchell told SoccerBeat.

Agent gives details of Dortley’s setback

“He had an operation in May and should’ve been back by October but still had discomfort and the surgeon went back in to find out the cause of the discomfort which set him back a little bit. His focus is getting back to his best for Kaizer Chiefs.”

Dortley had been a reliable presence for Chiefs in central defence, having formed a good partnership with Inacio Miguel, and also played a key part in Bafana Bafana’s qualification journey to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, the setback slowed him down but he was expected to be back in the opening months of this season before he encountered the problem.

His absence has seen Chiefs partner Miguel with either Zitha Kwinika or youngster Aden McCarthy and he will need to win back his place given the Glamour Boys have greatly improved defensively this season, keeping eight clean sheets, the joint highest in the PSL, while they have let in just six goals so far, only bettered by Orlando Pirates’ five.