Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana star ending his 18-month nightmare

Rushwin Dortley is edging closer to a return to competitive football, with Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz confirming that the defender has started getting valuable minutes.

The 23-year-old has endured a frustrating period on the sidelines after a serious knee injury disrupted his promising start at Naturena.

Now, however, the left-footed centre-back is finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

KAIZER CHIEFS’ STAR COMEBACK GATHERS MOMENTUM

Da Cruz confirmed that Dortley recently featured in a friendly before playing for the Kaizer Chiefs DDC side on Tuesday.

“Dortley will start to play games [soon]. He firstly played a friendly match last Friday, and also yesterday [Tuesday], he played with the DDC,” Da Cruz told journalists.

The Kaizer Chiefs coach, however, made it clear that the club will not rush the defender back into first-team action.

“So, we will give him minutes but we will take time with him. We want to be sure that when he comes back he will be ready 100%,” Da Cruz added.

Also read: Kaizer Chiefs players disappoint coach Fernando Da Cruz

That cautious approach is understandable considering what Dortley has been through.

THE LONG ROAD BACK

On 1 March 2025, Dortley suffered a serious knee injury during Kaizer Chiefs’ league clash against Mamelodi Sundowns. The injury required surgery and initially looked like a setback he could overcome with a lengthy rehabilitation programme.

Instead, his recovery became much more complicated.

Persistent discomfort and complications eventually forced the defender to undergo another procedure. That setback kept him out for the entire 2025/26 campaign.

Now, after around 18 months away from competitive football, Dortley is finally getting game time again. His return could provide Da Cruz with another important option in central defence.

The defender joined Kaizer Chiefs from Cape Town Spurs in July 2024 and immediately showed why the club had invested in him. Dortley made 21 appearances across all competitions during the first half of the 2024/25 campaign and also earned recognition from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.