Fernando da Cruz provides Langelihle Phili injury update

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has provided an injury update on newly signed winger Langelihle Phili, who sustained an ankle injury that has ruled him out of action for up to eight weeks.

The 21-year-old attacker arrived at Naturena as a marquee acquisition from fellow Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch FC, in a players-plus-cash deal that saw Ashley du Preez and Given Msimango join the Cape Winelands outfit.

He opened his Chiefs account with a goal in the one-all draw with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership prior to the injury, and da Cruz has since revealed the Amajita star is in the rehabilitation stage of his recovery.

“He's an important player for us that's why we signed him. He didn't work for 10 days, now he's starting his rehabilitation. He's a good player technically, he's a player that is able to make deep runs,” said the Chiefs boss.

"He's a player that is able to eliminate in 1v1 also. But we also have other players we're working with, we have trust in them and we create chances, that's not a problem, our main issue is that we're not clinical inside the two boxes.

"The main issue today [vs Siwelele] is that we were not clinical in the first-half, we didn't come back with two or three goals more than the opponent. And in the second half we were a little bit worried, a bit afraid on the field, and we let the opponent come back. So, it's our main issue today.

With the Glamour Boys currently embattled with injury woes, the French tactician is confident the team will welcome back some of the influential figures before the upcoming FIFA international break later this month.

“We have started to recover injured players, Reeve [Frosler] played today, [Bradley] Cross is very close to being able to play again, and it seems like he will be able to play before the FIFA break,” da Cruz added.

"And we will recover other players also during the FIFA break, so I think it will be a good thing for us.

Chiefs return to Betway Premiership action with a clash against Polokwane City at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, with Rise and Shine currently enduring a four-game winless streak.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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