Kaizer Chiefs could be facing another selection headache after midfielder Lebohang Maboe was forced off injured during Sunday’s goalless draw against Golden Arrows.
The Bafana Bafana midfielder was withdrawn in the second half after picking up a knock, raising concerns over his availability ahead of the next phase of the season.
Maboe has quickly established himself as an important figure in Fernando Da Cruz’s midfield, making the timing of the setback particularly concerning for Amakhosi.
Da Cruz admits Chiefs lost balance
Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz confirmed that Maboe’s injury affected the team’s structure in midfield.
The initial change was intended to be a straightforward positional replacement, but the early timing of the substitution forced Chiefs to adjust their approach.
Da Cruz explained that the team subsequently became less balanced in the middle of the park before further substitutions were made in an attempt to find a winning goal.
Despite increasing their attacking options, Chiefs could not find the breakthrough against Golden Arrows.
The Amakhosi created opportunities and even struck the woodwork, but ultimately had to settle for another draw.
Maboe injury comes at difficult time
The injury is particularly unfortunate for Maboe after his recent inclusion in the Bafana Bafana squad.
The midfielder had been enjoying an influential spell since joining Chiefs as a free agent from Mamelodi Sundowns and has become one of the standout performers in the Amakhosi squad.
His performances had also seen him come close to earning a place in South Africa’s FIFA World Cup squad.
For now, Chiefs will have to wait for further medical assessment before knowing how serious the latest setback is.
Can Chiefs cope without Maboe?
If Maboe is forced to spend time on the sidelines, Da Cruz will have to consider how best to reshape his midfield.
Chiefs already face pressure to improve their results after collecting four draws in their opening seven league matches. Losing one of their more influential midfielders could make that task more difficult.
The international break could provide valuable recovery time if Maboe’s injury proves to be minor, but the midfielder’s availability will be closely monitored by both Chiefs and Bafana Bafana.
For Amakhosi, the immediate question is clear: can they maintain their midfield balance and attacking momentum if Maboe is unavailable?
