Da Cruz hails Dortley’s emotional Chiefs return after long layoff

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has described Rushwin Dortley’s comeback as a rewarding moment for a player who worked hard to get back. The defender played for the club on Tuesday for the first time since March 2025, according to iDiski Times.

Dortley, who is 25, has been out for an extended period with a knee injury. Da Cruz explained that the technical team was careful about when to bring him back into the starting line-up.

Why the coach waited

The coach said he had held back on selecting Dortley for some weeks, particularly for the CAF matches. After seeing what the defender showed in training and talking it over with his staff, the team decided Tuesday was the right time.

Da Cruz was full of praise for what Dortley offers on the field. He pointed to the player’s technical quality, his ability to break opposition lines and find team-mates in space, and his strength in aerial duels. He described him as “very good in the air, strong in duels”.

The coach also admitted that Chiefs had missed those qualities. “It’s a player that we have needed for a long time,” he said, adding that Dortley needed time to recover first.

A long road back

The process was not straightforward. According to the report, Dortley’s recovery was filled with set-backs. He joined Chiefs from Cape Town Spurs and was ruled out of both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup while he was injured.

That absence came after he had become a key figure in the Bafana Bafana set-up under former head coach Hugo Broos.

Da Cruz said the effort Dortley put in during his rehabilitation made the return even more satisfying. The coach revealed that the defender was emotional at the end of the match.

“I am very happy for Dortley as he hasn’t played in a long time,” Da Cruz said, adding that the player had worked very hard.

What it means for Chiefs supporters

For fans, the return of a defender the coach clearly values is a boost to the squad’s options. The report did not say how often Dortley will feature in the coming matches, so his minutes will likely be managed carefully after such a long spell out.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.