Rushwin Dortley, who has missed a year's worth of football and looks likely to be left out of Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup, is reportedly back training with his teammates.
Image: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix
A year ago, things looked good for Rushwin Dortley. He was halfway through his first season with Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, and was seen as the future of the club.
At national level, the then 22-year-old was an important part of South Africa national soccer team head coach Hugo Broos’ plans, and his place in the team looked almost as certain. Fast forward to March 2026, and Dortley hasn’t been seen on a football pitch in over a year.
In March last year, Dortley suffered a serious knee injury in a league game against Mamelodi Sundowns. The injury required surgery, ending the defender’s season. In July, Chiefs, via an article on their website, said the player had returned to the pitch and was hoping to join the squad for pre-season training.
However, he suffered a setback in his recovery, and his return was pushed back to January. Dortley has reportedly returned to full training at Naturena and is working up his fitness ahead of a potential comeback.
However, having been out for an entire year, it’s difficult to see him back on the pitch this term with just a third of the season left to play.
As for a place in the national team, Dortley can forget about the World Cup. Mbekezeli Mbokazi, one of the players brought into the squad to fill the Kaizer Chiefs man’s boots, has since made the jersey his own, and it’s difficult to see him dropped for the tournament.
For Dortley, the immediate focus will have to shift away from short-term targets and towards rebuilding both his fitness and confidence after such a long spell on the sidelines. Knee injuries of this nature require careful management, and rushing back too quickly could risk further setbacks at a crucial stage of his career.
The bigger picture, however, remains intact. At 23, time is still firmly on his side, and a strong return next season could quickly put him back into contention at both club and international level. The talent that made him such a highly regarded prospect has not disappeared – it now comes down to how he responds.
Chiefs, too, will be watching closely. With the club in need of stability and long-term solutions at the back, a fully fit Dortley could feel like a new signing when he eventually returns. For now, patience is key – but if he can complete his recovery and rediscover his rhythm, there is still every chance he can reclaim the trajectory that once pointed so firmly upwards.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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