Kaizer Chiefs survive pre-season injury scare

THE fragility of best laid plans for the new season was made clear to Kaizer Chiefs again this weekend as their new-look, star-studded squad won pre-season silverware.

But they were also reminded of the haunting possibility of another injury-ladened season.

Siphiwe Tshabalala, Siboniso Gaxa and Kingston Nkatha all left the scene early on Saturday during the Gauteng Sports Challenge at Atteridgeville, Pretoria, as injury derailed their hopes of a good dollop of match practice as the new campaign looms.

Tshabalala, who spent chunks of last season on the sidelines with injury, was lucky to get away with just an ankle knock after a vicious lunging tackle from Gilbert Mapemba of Moroka Swallows.

But it did enough damage to rule the Bafana Bafana star out of the rest of the day as Chiefs played two matches to win the new competition.

In effect, Tshabalala had just an hour of playing time before Chiefs took the precaution of sidelining him. Siboniso Gaxa was similarly taken off soon thereafter with an inner thigh strain sustained in the semifinal match against Swallows.

Zimbabwean international Nkatha, bought from Black Leopards to reinforce the attack, lasted just over half an hour before he had to pull out of the semifinal with a knock on theknee.

"None are too serious," said Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung after the game, "but we hope this is not a trend of things to come. We had our fair share of bad luck last season."