Despite being voted into the starting XI by Kaizer Chiefs supporters, George Maluleka was replaced at the eleventh hour by Willard Katsande, and the club have explained why…
Chiefs lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon as they surrendered early bragging rights ahead of the 2019/20 Absa Premiership season, with Augustine Mulenga and Thembinkosi Lorch grabbing the goals at FNB Stadium.
Katsande was a surprise name in the XI when it was officially unveiled following weeks of voting, but it turns out that Maluleka’s departure from the side was actually a forced change as explained by the club.
A statement on their official website prior to the game on Saturday read, “The midfield will be manned by Siphelele Ntshangase, Dumsani Zuma, Khama Billiat and Willard Katsande. George Maluleka was initially meant to start but injury ruling him out meant that Katsande had to replace him.”
It remains to be seen at this point whether the injury to ‘Mido’ is a serious one, and it will only become clear in the coming days whether he is a doubt for the opening game of the 2019/20 season against Highlands Park next weekend.
