Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Farouk Khan has praised Rushwin Dortley and Sibongiseni Mthethwa following the club’s 2-1 victory over Siwelele FC in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals, highlighting the contributions of both players during the encounter.

The Soweto giants secured their place in the semi-finals after producing a comeback victory at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. Siwelele initially took the lead through Siyabonga Ndebele, but Chiefs responded through Wandile Duba, who restored parity before substitute Asanele Velebayi scored the winning goal in the 84th minute.

Following the victory, Chiefs booked a semi-final meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns as they continue their pursuit of silverware this season.

Speaking about the team's performance, Khan singled out Dortley for his impressive display in central defence. The defender was handed a starting opportunity following Inácio Miguel’s suspension and partnered Thabo Moloisane at the heart of the Chiefs defence.

Despite making only his second appearance of the season, Dortley impressed Khan with his composure and ability to organise the defensive line.

"I think Dortley also came into that position very cool, very calm, marshalled their defence," Khan said.

Dortley's performance could provide head coach Fernando Da Cruz with another reliable defensive option, particularly as the club continues to manage competition for places involving Miguel and Moloisane. His return to the starting lineup is also encouraging following the injury setbacks that have affected his campaign.

Khan also praised Mthethwa, who operated as the defensive midfielder against Siwelele, with Lebohang Maboe and Mduduzi Shabalala playing ahead of him.

According to the former coach, Mthethwa has shown noticeable improvement in his performances, particularly in areas beyond his traditional strengths of physicality and ball-winning ability.

"Mthethwa has just been growing from game to game. He's really improved. You know, in the past we knew him to be that very physical player with very little finesse, with very little skill moving forward," Khan explained.

Mthethwa's development could be important for Chiefs as Da Cruz looks to establish a balanced midfield capable of protecting the defence while supporting attacking players.

With the semi-final against Sundowns approaching, the performances of Dortley and Mthethwa provide further options for the Chiefs technical team as the club seeks to maintain its progress in the competition.

Source