Kaizer Chiefs head coach Molefi Ntseki says Given Msimango was benched to avoid fatigue and potential injuries.
It was the first time the former TS Galaxy captain didn’t feature in a domestic game since December 2021 – and he was one of only two players alongside Daniel Cardoso to play every minute of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership campaign.
But the 26-year-old, one of Chiefs major off-season signings from the Rockets found himself on the bench in the 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City on Tuesday evening, sparking questions of a potential loss in confidence.
However, Ntseki said it’s part of their rotation policy, with Njabulo Ngcobo featuring in his place – while Brandon Petersen was replaced by Itumeleng Khune earlier this season with the same approach.
“I always emphasis on giving the players on the pitch the confidence, and in situations like this where you have players that started the season, and they played very well, the rotation system has to come in,” Ntseki said.
“We don’t have to wait until the players get injured and I think we’ve seen players like George, Castillo, Yusuf Maart, now of late we’re pulling them out to manage their energy levels, just to manage the possibilities of fatigue creeping in.
“We’re trying to keep them fresh and I think Mapholoba has done very well, the attitude has been good, and he did well in pre-season, it’s just for us to decide who has to start at the back and we decided with Given and he’s been doing very well.
“But there’s a need for us to rotate the team and I think since Mapholoba took over, he’s been doing well and it’s the confidence we have to give, even to those who weren’t in the team – because the attitude has to be positive, we need to support each other.
“I think… not only about Given, but the rest of the team, those that weren’t on the pitch today, those that were on the bench, I think we’re also looking at the goalkeeping department, the rotation in that department… and also in the last few games we played Zitha at right-back, then Reeve came in.
“Now Hlanti is not in the team, Dove is in the team… all the quality players brought to the club, we have to make use of them because they are quality players.”
Msimango has racked up 105 appearances in the South African top flight since his arrival with Highlands Park back in 2020, scoring five goals along the way.
