Msimango Credits Mental Fortitude After Year-Long Injury Ordeal

Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango has praised his own mental resilience and the unwavering support of his inner circle for guiding him through a grueling recovery following a year-long injury layoff.

The 28-year-old center-back faced a massive setback that sidelined him for nearly 12 months. However, Msimango has successfully navigated his return to action, completing the full 90 minutes in Chiefs’ recent victories over Orbit College and his former club, TS Galaxy.

“You have to accept the situation for what it is,” Msimango reflected.

“I had to come to terms with what was happening to me physically, which ultimately helped me deal with it mentally.”

The Road to Recovery

The former TS Galaxy captain emphasized that his return to full fitness was a collective effort involving his family and the hierarchy at Naturena.

“Support from my family was vital, as was the backing from club management,” he said. “It has taken immense positivity and mental strength to battle through this ordeal and regain my place.”

Now that he has two full matches under his belt, Msimango is focused on cementing his position in the Amakhosi rearguard.

His return coincides with a purple patch for the club; Chiefs have secured four consecutive league wins and currently sit third on the Betway Premiership table with 42 points.

Targeting Five in a Row

The Phefeni Glamour Boys travel to Polokwane this Wednesday to face bottom-of-the-log Magesi at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Having already defeated Magesi 2-0 in the reverse fixture, confidence is high that they can extend their winning streak to five matches.

“It was great to come back and get a feel for playing once again,” said Msimango. 

“Obviously, having been out for a while, it took a bit of adjusting, but I am happy with the first step and to help the team get a vital win.”