Kaizer Chiefs will be without one of their key midfielders when they face Stellenbosch FC in a DStv Premiership clash this weekend.
Amakhosi coach Arthur Zwane will have to do without midfield workhorse Yusuf Maart when his side host Stellies at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The former Sekhukhune United captain, who has been one of Zwane’s trusted soldiers in midfield, will be forced to sit out the clash against the Cape Winelands outfit.
YUSUF MAART SUSPENDED FOR NEXT MATCH
Maart will be serving a one match suspension after he picked up his fourth yellow card in his side’s 3-2 win over Maritzburg United last time out.
Maart picked up his fourth yellow card of the campaign for an over-elaborate celebration after scoring the winner from the spot late in the match.
Zwane will now have to look for an alternative against Stellies, with the likes of Samkelo Zwane and Phathutshedzo Nange among the possible options.
The Chiefs mentor’s preferred midfield pairing this season has been that of Maart and Siyethemba Sithebe, but he won’t have that option on Saturday.
Nonetheless, Zwane will hope that his side is able to negotiate a way past Steve Barker’s Stellies even without one of his key midfielders.
CHIEFS PLAYERS AT RISK OF SUSPENSION
Interestingly, Maart’s partner in crime in midfield, Sithebe, is also walking a tight rope and is one yellow card away from suspension.
The former AmaZulu midfielder is one of five Chiefs players currently on three yellow cards heading into the Stellies clash.
The others are goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, defender Zitha Kwinika, winger Kgaogelo Sekgota and striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana.
Chiefs are currently enjoying a good run of form, having won their last four matches on the spin in all competitions, easing some pressure on Zwane.
They are in fourth place on the log standings with 37 points from 23 matches, the same as arch-rivals Orlando Pirates who are third.