Kaizer Chiefs face selection nightmare as suspensions and injuries mount

Amakhosi will be without both Aden McCarthy and Sibongiseni Mthethwa for their next Betway Premiership fixture after the pair picked up their fourth yellow cards of the season, wrote KickOff.

The bookings rule them out of Chiefs' upcoming clash against Durban City on March 15 due to suspension.

The disciplinary setback adds to an already growing list of absentees for the Soweto giants. Chiefs had travelled to KwaZulu-Natal without defender Zitha Kwinika, who was serving a one-match suspension after also accumulating four yellow cards.

However, the most pressing concern for the Naturena-based side remains their central defence. Inacio Miguel was ruled out moments before kickoff after sustaining an injury during the warm-up, making him the third centre-back currently unavailable.

Long-term absentee Rushwin Dortley has been sidelined for nearly a year, while Given Msimango, who recently returned from injury, has once again been ruled out due to medical reasons.

In the full-back positions, the situation has not been any easier. Right-back Reeve Frosler has spent most of the campaign on the treatment table, while Nkanyiso Shinga was forced off during his debut after starting at left-back.

Further disciplinary concerns loom, with both Mfundo Vilakazi and Flavio Silva currently sitting on three yellow cards and at risk of suspension should they be booked again.

Chiefs' defensive instability has been evident throughout the season. On Tuesday, McCarthy partnered Bradley Cross at centre-back, a different pairing from the one used in the previous match where Kwinika lined up alongside Miguel.

In fact, the club has managed to field the same central defensive pairing in consecutive matches only twice this season, highlighting the ongoing disruption in the backline.