Captain and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, along with key midfielder Lebohang Maboe, have both made a return to full training and are now included in the matchday squad in KwaZulu-Natal.

Maboe had been unavailable after suffering an injury during Chiefs’ scoreless draw with Golden Arrows at Mbombela Stadium last month. Medical evaluations conducted by Bafana Bafana team physician Tshepo Molobi revealed the extent of the injury, leading to his withdrawal from national team duties under coach Pitso Mosimane.

The 32-year-old midfielder missed the Chiefs’ 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch and the 1-0 first-leg loss to Red Arrows in Ndola as a result of this injury.

Petersen also sat out these two matches due to his injury, with Renaldo Leaner stepping in as goalkeeper during his absence.

The return of Maboe injects essential creativity and energy into the central midfield. Coach Fernando da Cruz has been under fire for an excessively defensive strategy, especially following his side’s disappointing display in Zambia over the weekend.

This double boost comes at a crucial time for Da Cruz, who faces three pivotal matches that could impact his future at Naturena. Firstly, Amakhosi must overcome the 1-0 aggregate deficit against the Zambian champions in Friday’s match to secure a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

After their continental match, Chiefs will take on TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, followed by a showdown against fierce rivals Orlando Pirates in a highly anticipated Soweto Derby at the same venue next weekend.

Chiefs announced the squad updates in an official statement on Friday:

“Kaizer Chiefs have received a vital boost ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup second-leg encounter in the second preliminary round, with goalkeeper Brandon Petersen and midfielder Lebohang Maboe returning to action after recent injuries.

“The experienced duo are part of the squad currently in Durban, gearing up to face Red Arrows of Zambia in a crucial match that will determine Amakhosi’s immediate prospects in this season’s continental competition. Both players participated in Thursday’s pre-match training session at Moses Mabhida Stadium, indicating their readiness for this key fixture.

“Fans can expect an exciting clash as the Glamour Boys seek to progress in front of their home crowd.”