Why Chislett and Cele missed the Durban City clash

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has clarified the absence of key midfielders Ethan Chislett and Thabo Cele following Amakhosi’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Durban City FC in the Betway Premiership on Sunday.

The win at FNB Stadium, delivered by a spectacular second-half strike from Glody Lilepo, snapped a worrying four-match losing streak for the Soweto giants. However, the talk post-match quickly turned to the team sheet, which was missing two of the club’s most talked-about stars.

“𝗪𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲…” 🗣️

​Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze on Ethan Chislett’s absence today.

The co-coach revealed Chislett felt discomfort on the eve of the Durban City clash, making him unavailable… pic.twitter.com/8iFowpzNSb

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) March 15, 2026

Late Heartbreak for Chislett

Chislett, who has become a fan favourite since his long-awaited debut against Stellenbosch FC last month, was a last-minute withdrawal. Despite being penciled into the starting XI, the playmaker failed a late fitness test due to lingering hamstring discomfort.

“Regarding Ethan, he felt some discomfort yesterday,” Kaze explained to the media. “We kept him in camp until the very last moment,t hoping he’d pull through, but unfortunately, the medical advice was that he couldn’t survive.”

The injury is a cruel blow for the midfielder, who had recently hit a rich vein of form, contributing both defensively and offensively. His absence adds to a growing injury list at Naturena that already includes Reeve Frosler, George Matlou, and Nkanyiso Shinga. Ashley Du Preez was drafted into the lineup as his eleventh-hour replacement.

The Tactical Snub: Thabo Cele

While Chislett’s omission was forced by the medical department, the absence of Thabo Cele was a deliberate choice by the technical team. Despite the suspension of engine-room regulars Sibongiseni ‘Ox’ Mthethwa and Aden McCarthy, Cele was left out of the matchday squad entirely.

Kaze confirmed the decision was purely “technical,” as the coaches opted for a different tactical profile to nullify Durban City’s specific threats.

“With Thabo Cele, it was a tactical decision not to involve him today,” Kaze stated bluntly.

It has been a difficult campaign for Cele, who was the heartbeat of the side that famously ended Chiefs’ decade-long trophy drought last season. This term, however, the midfielder has looked a shadow of his former self. Plagued by niggling injuries and a loss of rhythm, he has managed only 16 appearances across all competitions, struggling to reclaim his spot as a mainstay in the Amakhosi midfield.