New Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Kabelo Mahlasela will undergo a scan on Monday to determine the extent of his injury, but coach Steve Komphela has said the player could be ruled out of action for up to three months.
Mahlasela was hurt during his first training session – a day after he had joined Amakhosi from Bloemfontein Celtic on a two-and-a-half years contract and was immediately denied the chance to make his debut against SuperSport United on Saturday afternoon in Nelspruit.
“We are expecting the results (of the scan) when we get to Johannesburg on Monday,” said Komphela about Mahlasela following Chiefs’ goalless draw against SuperSport at the Mbombela Stadium.
“By the looks of things, it looks like a long-term injury. It is a real pity that we will be losing Mahlasela, a dynamic player, possibly for three months.”
The club reported on its website just hours before facing SuperSport that one of their three new January transfer window arrivals suffered an injury after “his knee got into a bad position after an unlucky tackle.”
This will be a major blow for Komphela, who was hopeful Mahlasela would give them an added advantage in the second half of the season and help him end his trophy drought since taking over the coaching position at Chiefs in June 2015.
The other two signings are striker Leonardo Castro from Mamelodi Sundowns and Siphelele Ntshangase, who joined from Baroka FC.
Chiefs also promoted 21-year-old Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, and he was the only one of the new faces to make his debut this weekend.