In a season for Kaizer Chiefs that has ominously contained more Downs — with a capital D — than ups, the form of tough acting captain and central defender Fabian McCarthy has stood out like a shining beacon.
In the circumstances, the news released on the Chiefs’ website on Friday night that McCarthy had suffered a hamstring injury in last weekend’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) game against Silver Stars and would be out of Saturday’s prestigious Absa Cup semifinal against Mamelodi Sundowns at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace could not have come at a more untimely moment.
”Although the injury is not of a critical nature,” says Chiefs physiotherapist David Milner, ”Fabian will not be fit to play for the next two weeks.
”I have given coach Ernst Middendorp a comprehensive report on the injury to McCarthy’s right leg,” added Milner, ”and disappointing as the news is on the eve of our crunch game against Downs, we have to accept the reality of the situation.”
Chiefs, who have already surrendered the PSL title they won in the past two seasons, are hoping to salvage a degree of pride and honour from the 2005/06 season through a measure of glory in the Absa Cup.
But they face a vibrant, motivated side who are on the verge of annexing the PSL title — needing only to avoid a defeat by six or more goals in the last league game of the season against Orlando Pirates — to be credited with their first championship since completing a run of three successive titles at the turn of the millennium. — Sapa