Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has revealed that two of his players played with an injury in the Nedbank Cup semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, as he praised them for being committed to the team.
Amakhosi stunned Sundowns at Loftus Stadium on Sunday evening, coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory which booked them a spot in the final against Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates on May 10. The final will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
READ: What Nabi Told Chiefs Players At Halftime
Without injured Rushwin Dortley and Inacio Miguel in defence, Nabi played Edmilson Dove as the left-sided centre back alongside Given Msimango. The coach revealed that Dove played the game with an injury, so too Thabo Cele.
"Maybe before the game, we don't discuss injured players, but maybe now it's time the to say before this game we lost Miguel. We were unlucky between Dove and Zitha (Kwinika). All of them they get injury also. Let me say Dove played today with injury. Zitha was also on the bench with injury," Nabi said, via his interpreter and assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef.
"Also, Thabo Cele got injury. All of them they played with injury today. When you see the performance of our players today, you can understand how much they love this team and how much they deserve to be in this team. We did it for the fans to make them happy and to make them proud of us."
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If the medical team had not worked to get Dove and Kwinika fit enough to be in the matchday squad, Nabi revealed that young defender Aden McCarthy was probably going to start. McCarthy has been itching to get his chance to get a first team appearance this season, but has to wait a little longer.
"There is a lot of young players, but we waiting for the right time to put them. Aiden McCarthy, even today, was 90 percent to start this game. He was a starter, but I have to say thank you to the medical staff. They prepared for us Dove and Zitha," Nabi said.
