Given Msimango wins back his starting spot as Kaizer Chiefs defender steps up in Soweto after early season benching

It’s funny how quickly things can change in football.

A few months ago, Given Msimango’s name was barely being mentioned in Kaizer Chiefs conversations.

Fans had already moved on, with new faces stepping into the spotlight and reshuffling the backline.

But fast forward to now, and the 27-year-old defender is not only back on the pitch—he’s become one of the key figures holding things together at the back for Amakhosi.

Benched and Overlooked at First

At the start of the season, Msimango was in a tough spot.

Despite wearing the captain’s armband last year, the arrival of coach Nasreddine Nabi saw him relegated to the bench.

The Tunisian coach decided to go with Miguel Inacio and Rushwin Dortley as his preferred centre-back duo.

It looked like Msimango’s time in the starting lineup might be over—until fate had other plans.

When Inacio faced suspensions and Dortley picked up an injury, Msimango was handed another opportunity.

And this time, he grabbed it with both hands.

Grabbing His Chance and Owning It

Since being reintroduced to the starting eleven, Msimango has done more than just fill a gap—he’s brought stability and calm to the Kaizer Chiefs defence.

Reflecting on his journey, he shared with FARPost:

“Personally, I’m in a good space.

I’ve been working hard both on and off the field, and I feel like that effort is starting to show.

It’s about staying consistent and improving, and I’m just focused on delivering strong performances.”

All Eyes on Chippa United

With their confidence boosted after a big win over Mamelodi Sundowns, Msimango and his teammates are now turning their attention to Chippa United.

Chiefs head to Gqeberha for Saturday’s clash, hoping to secure a crucial win and stay in the hunt for a top-eight league finish.

“Chippa are no pushovers,” Msimango pointed out. “They’re disciplined, well-structured, and competitive.

We’ve beaten them before in both the league and the cup, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.

We’ve done our homework on them, and we’re ready to match their energy.”

Can Chiefs Keep the Momentum Going?

The big question now is whether Kaizer Chiefs can build on their recent win and finally find some consistency in the league.

The fans are hopeful, and so is Msimango, who seems determined to help lead the team through this final stretch of the season.

What do you think—can Amakhosi turn things around and climb up the table?