Kaizer Chiefs have suffered a double injury blow with striker Wandile Duba and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen ruled out ahead of their away game against Lamontville Golden Arrows, which is being played at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday.
Chiefs announced that Petersen hurt his knee in training on Tuesday and will be out for more than a month, while Duba has a hip problem that will only see him back after the international break, which starts on Monday and runs through until 7 October.
“Petersen sustained a knee injury during training on Tuesday morning and will be sidelined for an estimated four to six weeks. The experienced shot-stopper, who has featured in every match since the season kicked off in August, injured the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will now undergo rehabilitation,” said a club statement.
“Adding to the concerns, attacker Wandile Duba has been ruled out for approximately two weeks after picking up a hip and groin injury. Duba, who has already netted three goals this season, has a minor defect in the affected area, and the medical team will monitor his progress closely over the coming week before determining the next course of action,” it added.
Petersen’s absence opens the door for Renaldo Lerner to play his first game since joining Sekhukhune United. Lerner won a first cap for South Africa in March but by the end of the season had lost his place in the Sekhukhune line-up and was released by the club in a dramatic fall from grace just months after becoming a potential outside pick for the World Cup.