THE FUSE

Khumalo backs Mendes for the Kaizer Chiefs senior side

Chiefs Diski Challenge coach Vela Khumalo believes 18-year-old sensation Steven Mendes already possesses the maturity and raw ability to represent the Chiefs first team. Mendes won the Golden Boot at the recent COSAFA U20 tournament in Maputo, Mozambique. Mendes, nomimally a midfielder, was converted into a striker for the event.

“I think I must just take the opportunity to congratulate our under-20s for qualifying for AFCON,” Khumalo told iDiski Times.

“With the Mendes story, everybody’s talking about that. These are the five players that were part of our DDC. He’s a special player, a top player. He’s going to make it big. The boy has grown in stature and is very talented.”

“It’s just a matter of time. He will also be knocking or being identified by the coaches to remain in the first team, in and out, train with the first team and all of that. But he’s a special player. He’s a talented player. This is good for our team.”

Latest injury news from Naturena

First-choice goalkeeper Brandon Petersen will miss up to six weeks with a knee injury he sustained in training. Meanwhile, versatile attacker Wandile Duba will miss a few weeks with a hip and groin issue. New Chiefs signing Lebohang Maboe was forced off during the second half of their 0-0 stalemate with Golden Arrows. The severity of his injury is unclear, but it’s a blow for both club and player, who pulled out of the Bafana squad to face Guinea and Eritrea. The 32-year-old playmaker has two goals and two assists from seven Betway Premiership outings this term. Talented attacker Langelihle Phili is also out long-term with an ankle problem. Left-backs Paseka Mako and Khanyiso Shinga, as well as striker Khanyisa Mayo, are also sidelined.

When is the next Kaizer Chiefs match?

We’re in the middle of a long international break, and Chiefs fans still have more time to wait. The Glamour Boys’ next league assignment is at home to Stellenbosch on Saturday, 17 October at 15:30.