Kaizer Chiefs without FOUR stars for Chippa United clash

Kaizer Chiefs have been hit by a number of injuries as they will face Chippa United on Saturday without four of their star players.

READ | CHIPPA UNITED VS KAIZER CHIEFS: HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH ON TV

Kick-off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is at 17:00.

According to coach Stuart Baxter, defenders Erick Mathoho and S’fiso Hlanti will miss the encounter with the former having twisted his ankle at training.

READ | JESSICA WELCOMES ’12TH PLAYER’ THAT MADE KAIZER CHIEFS ‘LOSE’ PSL TITLE IN 2020

Hlanti has been out for months now, and while he was expected to be back earlier this year, Baxter said the Bafana Bafana international had a setback.

Furthermore, Baxter confirmed that Lebogang Manyama is also not available after going down on his knees with a troubled cartilage.

READ | ORLANDO PIRATES LATEST: NGOMA FEELS HE WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY AT BUCS!

Leonardo Castro is back in full training but Baxter said the striker will not be considered for selection against Chippa United probably because of his fitness.

The good news, though, is that midfielder Cole Alexander is back in full training and available for selection for the clash against Chippa United.

READ | NO KAIZER CHIEFS PLAYERS AT 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP IN QATAR, HERE IS WHY…

KAIZER CHIEFS TO MISS FOUR KEY PLAYERS FOR CHIPPA UNITED CLASH

“We’ve lost Tower (Erick Mathoho) this week. He twisted his ankle blocking a shot,” Baxter told the Chiefs website.

“Lebogang Manyama broke down with his knees, it’s cartilage trouble and that’s going to keep him out for a while.

“Cole Alexander has come back; he’s been training for about 10 days. He played in an internal practice game and came through it okay, so he’s available.

“Leonardo Castro is not available but is back in full training.

“S’fiso Hlanti had a bit of a setback, but that’s the way it is with Achilles. The scar tissue causes some problems and it feels like he’s damaged it, but he hasn’t, it’s just scar tissue.

“But he’s got to go back seven days and then start again. That’s the nature of the beast with this injury. But apart from that, we’ve got just about everybody fit,” added Baxter.

READ | ORLANDO PIRATES TO BE REPRESENTED AT 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP AFTER GHANA WIN