Khenyeza set for comeback

Mabhuti Khenyeza is expected to return to action for Mpumalanga Black Aces on the resumption of their league programme early next month.

A mystery knee injury kept the former Bafana Bafana striker out of the club's final four games of 2013, but after a second scan on December 19 he has been given a rehabilitation programme and is expected to be fit for the clash with Moroka Swallows on February 5.

Khenyeza had woken on the morning of AmaZayoni's 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns on December 4 complaining of discomfort in his knee.

A scan revealed nothing out of the ordinary, but the club sent him for a second opinion as he continued to feel pain, and that scan revealed some minor damage.

He is now in rehabilitation for that, but the club are confident he will be fully fit in time to face the Birds.

It is a boost to the forward options of a side that have battled for goals - their tally of 12 from 14 matches is less than a goal a game.

Khenyeza still has a pending arbitration case hanging over his head that could yet see him banned from the game for 12 months, but no date has yet been set down for it.

The matter has dragged on, allowing Khenyeza to keep playing, as it has already been almost five months since the PSL said they would take the matter to arbitration, following the decision of the South African Football Association appeals board to change his punishment for spitting on a match official from a 12-month ban to a R50000 fine - half of which was suspended. Safa had indicated last month that the matter would be heard in "mid-January".