Johannesburg- Siphiwe Tshabalala, a veteran of 27 consecutive Soweto Derby matches, could experience the rare occasion of watching Kaizer Chiefs take on their bitter rivals Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium in a PSL clash this Saturday from the bench.
Having recently recovered from knee surgery that forced him to miss Amakhosi’s first three matches this season, Tshabalala’s appearances for the club have so far been limited to that of a substitute. He remains the only player with a unique record of having featured in 27 Soweto Derbies in a row and could have increased that number in July when Chiefs beat Pirates 2-0 in the Carling Black Label Cup, but Tshabalala missed that match due to injury.
“We are nursing him back to fitness because he had been out for three months due to injury,” said Amakhosi coach Steve Komphela following Chiefs' 4-2 penalty shoot-out win against Maritzburg United in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout at the weekend. Tshabalala again came on from the bench, replacing Hendrick Ekstein in the 74th minute. Last Saturday's win over Maritzburg means Chiefs are through to the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout, with the draw schedule to take place on Thursday.
“If ever there was an indication of how far he’s come, it was a match we played in Bloemfontein (the Macufe Cup against Bloemfontein Celtic two weeks ago) and even then you will remember that towards the game he started cramping,” Komphela said.
Tshabalala, who has since lost the captain’s armband to goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune only due of a lack of game time this season, featured in 37 domestic games for Chiefs - missing just two matches throughout the entire campaign last season. But the Glamour Boys, despite a stuttering start when Wits beat them in their opening league match on August 23 and Cape Town City knocking them out of the MTN8 cup in the same week, seem to be coping without him. The 32-year-old has made four substitute appearances in the five matches since his return from injury.
“The team has been doing well,” Komphela explained. “And we are saying if it ain’t broke why fix it? It’s not only Shabba (Tshabalala). You have Tsepo Masilela, who is highly capable and unbelievably experienced, but Sibusiso Khumalo has got a chance. (Bernard) Parker is also waiting for his chance. (Lucky) Baloyi got his chance against Maritzburg because George Maluleka is suspended. Keagan Buchanan got his as well. So we are trying to play around with the team, while maintaining harmony.
“We acknowledge Shabba’s return and his contribution. But we also acknowledge the fact that there had been some movements within the club that had been giving us (positive) results. We welcome the nice headache.”
Cape Times