Kaizer Chiefs are in the midst of an injury nightmare, and a source is blaming a brutal pre-season training regime in Turkey as the root cause.
A well-placed source confirmed that a string of injuries, particularly in the defensive department, can be traced back to the club’s intense conditioning program before the current Premier Soccer League campaign kicked off.
Pre-season in Turkey backfires on Chiefs
“The pre-season is to just keep the players fit for the long season,” the source explained. “But because the training in Turkey was very tough. Most of their bodies could not take in the fatigue of playing week in and week out, hence some of these injuries.”
The source stressed that the squad failed to prepare adequately for the physical toll of the season. The team reached their physical limits during the overseas training. While pre-season training aims to build endurance and match readiness, Chiefs’ approach may have overstepped the mark.
Injuries hit hard especially in defence
The injury list tells the story. Six key defenders, Inacio Miguel, Given Msimango, Dillan Solomons, Ashwin Dortley, Bongani Sam, and Reeve Frosler, have all gone down. With Frosler reportedly ruled out for the remainder of the season.
“Most of the injuries are believed to have been caused by stiff and tight muscles. Which was contributed by the hard training the team apparently had in the pre-season,” the source added.
The toll hasn’t stopped with the defence either. According to the insider, “it’s not only the defenders who have been affected by this tough training regime but almost all the players.”
Fixtures vs. Fitness: Are Chiefs really overloaded?
What raises eyebrows, however, is the fact that Kaizer Chiefs haven’t faced the same fixture congestion as some of their PSL rivals. Amakhosi failed to qualify for the MTN8 and didn’t participate in any CAF competitions this season. Which gave them more breathing room in their schedule.
This contradiction has sparked even more scrutiny over the club’s training philosophy and player load management. Despite fewer matches, the injury list continues to grow, indicating a possible long-term fallout from the pre-season overload.
Chiefs are limping through the rest of their PSL campaign with a depleted squad. And management faces mounting pressure to address the root causes of their fitness woes. With the next pre-season just months away. The club must evaluate how to strike a better balance between rigorous preparation and sustainable performance.
“They are working on how to manage that. And minimise the hard training in the next off-season,” the source revealed, hinting at a major shift in planning.
Stay tuned with The South African as Kaizer Chiefs are in the midst of an injury nightmare.
Are the Chiefs training methods to blame for current injuries?
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