Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the extent of defender Rushwin Dortley’s injury which has sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Dortley will miss the rest of the campaign after undergoing knee surgery following an injury sustained at the beginning of the month.
According to the club, the defender has gone under the knife and will now focus on his recovery although there is no timeline on when he will be back in action.
What have Chiefs said about Dortley?
“The surgery was deemed essential to ensure a full recovery, and reports indicate it went smoothly,” Chiefs said through a statement on their website.
“Amakhosi’s medical team is optimistic about Dortley’s prognosis, which is encouraging both for the player and the club. While the timeline for his return remains uncertain, there is hope that he will be back on the field donning the iconic Gold & Black colours in the not too distant future.
“As the club rallies behind Rushwin during this challenging time, everyone wishes him a speedy recovery process and looks forward to seeing him back on the field, ready to contribute to the team's success once again.”
Defender also out of Bafana fold
It is a blow to coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has played Dortley in all games that he has been available for, and it means Given Msimango will have a big role to play now after being slotted in the last three games.
Dortley is also not available to Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos for South Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin this month while Chiefs will play their remaining nine league games without him as well as the Nedbank Cup semi-final.
The defender, who has missed the last three games against Magesi FC, Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town City, has played 21 games across all competitions for Chiefs this season and was also a vital member of Broos’ team as he featured in all six matches during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
