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Aaron Dube in Johannesburg, South Africa
KAIZER Chiefs’ latest acquisition in the South African Premiership, Ovidy Karuru looks set to miss today’s clash with Bloemfontein Celtic as he is yet to receive his work permit.
Corporate communications manager Vina Maphosa confirmed that Karuru is yet to receive his papers despite showing early signs of gelling well with the rest of the team.

“Karuru is still waiting for his work permit and will not be available for selection tomorrow. We hope he can get his permit soon,” Maphosa said.

Maphosa remains happy though with the team’s recent performances both in the Absa Premiership and in the lucrative MTN Top 8 Cup.
Chiefs clash with Celtic tonight at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg after two wins in the league- both away matches.

Amakhosi have also advanced to the semi-finals of the MTN 8 by walloping Mpumalanga Black Aces in the quarter-finals 4-0 before taking a 2-0 lead into the second leg of the round of four teams against Platinum Stars.

Chiefs are home to Warriors’ Willard “Salt&Vinegar” Katsande and striker Kingstone Nkhatha who have been enjoying regular game time. Maphosa said Zimbabwean Matthew Rusike, Bernard Parker and Siphiwe Tshabalala have shown steady progress in their recovery on the sick bed.

Maphosa told Chronicle Sport: “I’m glad about our performances so far and that our injured players are now back. We are not only winning games since the start of the season, we are dishing out a fine display of football. We firing on all cylinders with five different players appearing on the scoresheet in the four games played so far. Mandla Masango, George Maluleka, Reinelwe Letsholonyane and George Lebese are the chief tormentors. Masango, Letsholonyane, Tsepo Masilela and Maluleka have been awarded the Man of the Match awards with their performances in the opening games of the season.”

Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter said: “The game against Celtic comes at a time when we are faced with a tight schedule early in the season. We are currently playing back to back games in the league and cup. We will field a competitive side tomorrow especially that we will be playing in our own backyard. We would like to protect our territory. The players are competing for the starting line up and that is good for the team. We have missed the services of Tshabalala, Parker and Rusike dearly but the other players have not disappointed yet.”
Amakhosi have injected a number of new players in Siphelele Mthembu, Levy Mokgothu, Phakamani Mngadi and Karuru apart from the three newly promoted from the reserve team Hendrick Ekstein, Zitha Macheke and Chris Matombo.

PSL fixtures
Kaizer Chiefs v Bloemfontein Celtic (FNB Stadium), Polokwane City v Ajax Cape Town (Peter Mokaba Stadium).
Tomorrow: Wits v Maritzburg United (Bidvest Stadium), Free State Stars v SuperSport United (Charles Mopeli Stadium), Moroka Swallows v Mamelodi Sundowns (Dobsonville Stadium), Black Aces v Platinum Stars (Mbombela Stadium), Chippa United v University of Pretoria (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium), Orlando Pirates v AmaZulu (Orlando Stadium).