Kaizer Chiefs co-head coach Khalil Ben Youssef has revealed that a stomach bug struck several Amakhosi players just hours before their CAF Confederation Cup goalless draw against AS Simba in Lubumbashi on Saturday.
The unexpected health scare threw a curveball into the team’s preparations for the crucial first-leg encounter of their final qualifier for the group stages.
Five Players Sidelined by Stomach Bug
Speaking to the club’s media team after the match, Ben Youssef said the situation had been “critical” as five players suffered from diarrhea a day before kickoff.
“Five players yesterday had diarrhea,” Ben Youssef explained. “It was a critical situation and we were not sure if they would play. Congratulations to them, they were not 100 percent, but they were ready to fight for the team.”
Despite not being fully fit, the affected players pushed through to help Chiefs secure a valuable draw away from home. The second leg will take place at Dobsonville Stadium this Saturday, where everything will be on the line.
Difficult Pitch and Tactical Adjustments
Ben Youssef also highlighted the challenging conditions at TP Mazembe Stadium, which forced Chiefs to abandon their usual passing game.
“With the situation of the pitch and the temperature, we prepared the players for this situation,” he said. “This was a pitch you can’t play on, so we played long balls like them (Simba). Our plan was to manage the first 45 minutes and not concede.”
Chiefs’ tactical approach nearly paid off. Khanyisa Mayo struck the crossbar in the first half, and a late chance involving Mfundo Vilakazi, Mduduzi Shabalala, and Ashley Du Preez narrowly missed finding the back of the net.
International Returnees Eased In
Ben Youssef further explained why Shabalala and Vilakazi did not start the match. Both players had just returned from international duty Shabalala with Bafana Bafana after their World Cup qualification, and Vilakazi with Amajita at the U20 World Cup in Chile.
“Vilakazi had only a week of training and a long flight back from Chile. Shabalala was with Bafana for ten days. They weren’t ready to start, but we prepared for both to come on in the second half,” Ben Youssef said.
Kaizer Chiefs Focus Shifts to Siwelele and Second Leg
Before the decisive return leg against Simba, Chiefs will face Siwelele on Wednesday at FNB Stadium in the Betway Premiership. The team may be without winger Glody Lilepo, who picked up an injury during the clash in Lubumbashi.
With qualification for the group stages at stake, Chiefs will be hoping their players recover fully from the stomach bug and injuries in time to deliver a strong performance at home.
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